Biden says Netanyahu’s approach to Gaza war ‘wrong’

WASHINGTON:

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s approach to the war in Gaza is a “mistake”, US President Joe Biden said in an interview published on Tuesday, further criticizing Israel’s handling of the conflict.

“I think what he’s doing is wrong. I don’t agree with his approach,” Biden said in comments to Univision, a US Spanish-language television network.

Biden has also previously called Israel’s bombing of Gaza “Without discrimination,“and his military actions”over the top,

The White House said last week that the president, in a conversation with Netanyahu, threatened to condition, US support for Israel’s attack on it by taking concrete measures to protect aid workers and civilians. This call followed a Israeli airstrike that killed seven people, of the World Central Kitchen help group.

“What I’m asking is that the Israelis simply ask for a cease-fire, to allow for the next six, eight weeks, full access to all food and medicine coming into the country,” Biden said in Tuesday’s interview.

of Israel military attack on Gaza, has been placed international criticism. Domestically, Biden has also struggled months of protests, by anti-war activists, Muslims and Arab Americans across the country, who have called for a permanent cease-fire in Gaza and restrictions on US military aid to Israel.

Hamas October 7 attack, on Israel killed 1,200 people, according to Israeli estimates. Israel’s subsequent military offensive on Hamas-run Gaza has killed more than 33,000, according to the local health ministry, displaced nearly its entire population of 2.3 million and led to allegations of genocide, which Israel denies. The coastal enclave also suffers from widespread starvation.

Israel has received more foreign aid from the US than any other country since World War II, although annual aid has been reduced for two years due to funding and military equipment sent to Ukraine since Russia’s 2022 invasion.

The United States has traditionally shielded Israel in the UN Security Council and vetoed three draft resolutions on the war in Gaza. He abstained last month when the Security Council called for an immediate ceasefire.