President Joe Biden said Saturday that he believes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is “hurting Israel more than helping Israel” in how he is approaching its war against Hamas in Gaza. The U.S. leader expressed support for Israel’s right to pursue Hamas after the Oct. 7 attack, but said of Netanyahu that “he must pay more attention to the innocent lives being lost as a consequence of the actions taken.” Biden has for months warned that Israel risks losing international support over mounting civilian casualties in Gaza, and the latest remarks in an interview with MSNBC’s Jonathan Capehart pointed to the increasingly strained relationship between the two leaders.
Quick Read
- President Joe Biden criticizes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s approach to the war against Hamas in Gaza.
- Biden emphasizes that the mounting civilian casualties in Gaza are damaging Israel’s international standing and are contrary to Israel’s values.
- The U.S. President expresses concern over a potential Israeli invasion of Rafah, calling it a “red line” but assures continued support for Israel’s defense, including the Iron Dome missile interceptors.
- Biden is open to addressing the Israeli Knesset directly, including considering another trip to Israel.
- Efforts for a temporary ceasefire before Ramadan appear unlikely, with Hamas resisting a proposed deal involving a six-week fighting pause, hostage releases, and increased humanitarian aid to Gaza.
- CIA Director Bill Burns is currently in the region attempting to negotiate a ceasefire agreement.
The Associated Press has the story:
Biden: Netanyahu ‘hurting Israel’ by not preventing more civilian deaths in Gaza
Newslooks- WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) —
President Joe Biden said Saturday that he believes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is “hurting Israel more than helping Israel” in how he is approaching its war against Hamas in Gaza.
The U.S. leader expressed support for Israel’s right to pursue Hamas after the Oct. 7 attack, but said of Netanyahu that “he must pay more attention to the innocent lives being lost as a consequence of the actions taken.” Biden has for months warned that Israel risks losing international support over mounting civilian casualties in Gaza, and the latest remarks in an interview with MSNBC’s Jonathan Capehart pointed to the increasingly strained relationship between the two leaders.
Biden said a potential Israeli invasion of the Gaza city of Rafah, where more than 1.3 million Palestinians are sheltering, is “a red line” for him, but said he would not cut off weapons like the Iron Dome missile interceptors which protect the Israeli civilian populace from rocket attacks in the region.
“It is a red line,” he said, when asked about Rafah, “but I’m never going to leave Israel. The defense of Israel is still critical, so there’s no red line I’m going to cut off all weapons so they don’t have the Iron Dome to protect them.”
Biden said he was willing to make his case directly to the Israeli Knesset, its parliament, including by making another trip to the country. He traveled to Israel weeks after the Oct. 7. attack. He declined to elaborate on how or whether such a trip might materialize.
The U.S. leader had hoped to secure a temporary ceasefire before Ramadan begins this week, though that appears increasingly unlikely as Hamas has balked at a deal pushed by the U.S. and its allies that would have seen fighting pause for about six weeks, the release of additional hostages held by Hamas and Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, and a surge in humanitarian aid into Gaza. Biden noted CIA Director Bill Burns is in the region currently trying to resurrect the deal.
