A day after President Biden claimed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was “hurting Israel greater than serving to it,” Netanyahu dismissed the declare as “false” and introduced a public assembly between the leaders. The controversy escalated.
In an interview with Politico, Netanyahu disputed Biden’s evaluation of Israel’s navy technique within the Gaza Strip, saying his insurance policies characterize what the “overwhelming majority” of Israelis need. Ta.
“I do not know precisely what the president meant, but when he meant that I used to be pursuing a private coverage that went towards the desires of the vast majority of Israelis and that this was harming Israel’s pursuits,” he mentioned. Then he is mistaken on each counts,” Netanyahu mentioned.
He added: “These insurance policies are supported by the overwhelming majority of Israelis. They assist the actions we’re taking to destroy Hamas’ remaining terrorist battalions.”
Prime Minister Netanyahu responded to feedback made by Biden in an interview with MSNBC on Saturday. Biden reaffirmed U.S. assist for Israel whereas rebuking Netanyahu over the rising variety of civilian deaths within the Gaza Strip.
“He has a proper to defend Israel, he has a proper to proceed pursuing Hamas, however he should, he should, pay extra consideration to the harmless lives which can be misplaced because of the actions taken,” Biden mentioned. mentioned.
“In my view, he’s doing extra hurt to Israel than he’s serving to Israel,” Biden mentioned, apparently referring to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s navy technique. “I believe it goes towards the representatives of Israel and is an enormous mistake. Therefore, I need a ceasefire.”
When requested by interviewer Jonathan Capehart whether or not there have been any “crimson strains” that Netanyahu mustn’t cross, equivalent to a floor invasion of Rafah in southern Gaza, Biden gave an ambiguous response. “The protection of Israel is essential,” he mentioned. Still vital.”
Referring to Prime Minister Netanyahu, the president mentioned, “We can not afford to let one other 30,000 Palestinians die” because of pursuing Hamas.
“There are different methods to take care of, take care of, and take care of the trauma attributable to Hamas,” he added.
Biden didn’t present particulars. The Gaza Health Ministry says greater than 31,000 folks have been killed within the enclave since Israel launched the conflict in response to an Oct. 7 assault by Hamas.
But the president’s feedback as soon as once more highlighted the fragile place the United States finds itself in, offering weapons to Israel whereas concurrently offering humanitarian help to Gaza.
Biden has taken a extra forceful stance in current days in regards to the plight of civilians within the Gaza Strip, citing his acknowledged plan to launch a serious floor offensive and not using a plan to guard these displaced in Rafah. He urged Prime Minister Netanyahu to not perform the transfer. More than 1 million Gazans have taken refuge within the metropolis, a lot of whom have been evacuated by Israeli navy orders to maneuver to so-called secure zones.
In an interview with Politico, Prime Minister Netanyahu reiterated that Israel nonetheless intends to invade Rafah. I’ve no intention of leaving. You know, there is a crimson line. You know what the crimson line is, October seventh won’t ever occur once more. It will not occur once more. ”
Asked about Mr. Biden’s remarks, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz declined to touch upon what Mr. Biden had steered in regards to the relationship between the United States and Israel.
“I attempt to distinguish between rhetoric and substance. The function of the conflict and the state of Israel is straightforward: to free all hostages and dismantle Hamas’s navy and management,” Katz advised Israelis. Sunday Radio Network. “As Mr. Biden emphasised yesterday, the United States helps these targets.”
He added that Israel mentioned it deliberate to evacuate civilians from Rafah earlier than the bottom invasion, and reiterated that Israeli forces had not “deliberately harmed civilians.”
The assault on Rafah has prompted warnings from the United States and different allies in regards to the potential humanitarian value. The U.N. mentioned a floor invasion of Rafah “might have important implications for all of Gaza, together with tons of of 1000’s of individuals within the north who’re at grave threat of famine and hunger.”
Under Biden’s path, U.S. navy cargo planes have dropped meals, water and different help into Gaza a number of instances in current days. The newest airdrop occurred on Sunday, when the U.S. navy mentioned it dropped meals together with rice, flour and different items into northern Gaza.
Additionally, the Biden administration introduced plans to construct a floating pier off the coast of Gaza to ship extra provides to the enclave.
But American officers have acknowledged that dropping help by air and constructing piers is just not as efficient as delivering provides by land, an possibility Israel has largely blocked.
Gabby Sobelman contributed reporting.