In a significant development, U.S. President Joe Biden issued a stern warning to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday, insisting that Israel must take immediate steps to safeguard Palestinian civilians and foreign aid workers in Gaza. This ultimatum comes in the wake of an Israeli attack that tragically claimed the lives of seven aid workers from World Central Kitchen (WCK), sparking outrage globally.

The White House did not specify the exact measures it expects from Netanyahu but implied that failure to comply could result in a reduction of U.S. support for Israel's military efforts against Hamas militants. Analysts have interpreted this as a potential slowdown in arms transfers or a tempered stance at the United Nations.

"This is as close to a 'come to Jesus' moment as you can get," remarked Steven Cook from the Council on Foreign Relations, referring to Biden's earlier warning of an impending turning point in relations with Netanyahu. Dennis Ross, a seasoned U.S. diplomat, emphasized that Biden's message suggests conditioning military assistance on Israel's response to humanitarian concerns.

President Biden has faced pressure from progressive Democrats to rein in Netanyahu, especially regarding the civilian death toll in Gaza, while also being wary of alienating pro-Israel voters. So far, Biden has refrained from setting conditions on arms transfers, but this latest incident has prompted a decisive shift.

The turning point for Biden came with the deadly attack on WCK aid workers, which occurred amidst heightened U.S. efforts to dissuade Israel from a potential ground offensive in Gaza's southern city of Rafah.

During a tense 30-minute call, Biden directly expressed his concerns to Netanyahu, with Vice President Kamala Harris, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken also present. The White House emphasized the need for Israel to announce and implement specific, measurable steps to mitigate civilian harm and ensure the safety of aid workers.

In response to Biden's call, the Israeli government swiftly announced measures to increase aid flows to Gaza, including opening ports and crossings and stepping up aid deliveries from Jordan. However, it remains unclear if these actions will suffice to meet U.S. expectations.

The Biden administration, while historically supportive of Israel, appears to have reached a tipping point. Mike Singh, a former National Security Council official, believes that if Israel fails to meet Biden's conditions, the U.S. may pursue a U.N. Security Council resolution akin to past conflicts.

Jonathan Panikoff, a former intelligence officer, suggests that while Biden is unlikely to sever ties with Israel entirely, he may impose conditions on military assistance and take measures against extremist Jewish settlers involved in attacks on Palestinians.

Biden's stance underscores a growing impetus within the administration to hold Israel accountable for civilian casualties and humanitarian concerns in Gaza, signaling a potential shift in the dynamics of U.S.-Israeli relations.