President Biden recently stated that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel was “hurting Israel more than helping Israel,” prompting a response from Mr. Netanyahu in which he dismissed the claim as “wrong.” This has led to a public dispute between the two leaders.
In an interview with Politico, Mr. Netanyahu challenged President Biden’s assessment of Israel’s military strategy in the Gaza Strip, stating that his policies were in line with the wishes of the majority of Israelis.
Mr. Netanyahu rebutted the notion that his policies were against the interests of Israel, emphasizing that they were widely supported by the Israeli populace. He defended the actions taken to eliminate terrorist groups in Gaza.
President Biden had criticized Mr. Netanyahu’s handling of the situation in Gaza, expressing concern over civilian casualties and calling for a ceasefire. He suggested that Mr. Netanyahu’s military strategy was not in line with Israel’s values.
During the interview, Mr. Biden also emphasized the importance of protecting innocent lives in Gaza and urged Mr. Netanyahu to consider alternative approaches to dealing with Hamas.
The delicate balance between supporting Israel and providing aid to Gaza has been a challenge for the United States. Mr. Biden has been vocal about the need to protect civilians in Gaza and has cautioned against a major ground offensive in Rafah.
Mr. Netanyahu reiterated Israel’s intention to invade Rafah but assured that there would be plans in place to evacuate civilians before any military action. He stressed that Israel’s goal was to dismantle Hamas’s military capabilities.
The potential humanitarian consequences of a ground invasion in Rafah have raised concerns from the international community, including warnings from allies and the United Nations.
Under Mr. Biden’s leadership, the U.S. has conducted several airdrops of aid into Gaza and plans to build a floating pier to deliver more supplies to the region. However, challenges remain in delivering aid by land due to Israeli restrictions.
Gabby Sobelman contributed reporting.
