Biden: Netanyahu 'hurting Israel' by not preventing civilian deaths in Gaza
Biden says a potential Israeli invasion of the Gaza city of Rafah is “a red line” for him, but said he would not cut off weapons like the Iron Dome missile interceptors.
A banner against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is displayed, as a woman holds an Israeli flag next to police members, on the day of a protest against Netanyahu's government in Tel Aviv, Israel, March 9, 2024. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins / Photo: Reuters
President Joe Biden said that he believes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is “hurting Israel more than helping Israel” in how he is approaching its war in Gaza.
The US leader expressed on Saturday support for Israel’s right to pursue Hamas after the October 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 of the death toll in Gaza, “it’s contrary to what Israel stands for. And I think it’s a big mistake.”
'A red line'
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 defence 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 travelled to Israel weeks after the October 7 attack. He declined to elaborate on how or whether such a trip might materialise.
The US leader had hoped to secure a temporary ceasefire before Ramadan begins this week, though that appears increasingly unlikely as Hamas has baulked at a deal pushed by the US 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.
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