In a recent interview, US President Joe Biden voiced disapproval of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of the conflict in Gaza, labeling it as a “mistake.”
Biden’s remarks, made to Univision, a US Spanish-language TV network, further underscored criticism of Israel’s military actions in the region. Biden had condemned Israel’s bombing campaign in Gaza as “indiscriminate” and “over the top.”
The White House disclosed that during a recent call between Biden and Netanyahu, the US President had threatened to condition American support for Israel’s offensive on concrete measures to safeguard aid workers and civilians.
This warning came in response to an Israeli airstrike that claimed the lives of seven aid group staff members from World Central Kitchen.
Biden urged Israel to declare a ceasefire and facilitate unhindered access to humanitarian aid for a period of six to eight weeks.
The ongoing military assault on Gaza has garnered mounting international criticism, alongside domestic protests in the US. Anti-war activists, Muslims, and Arab Americans have called for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and for restrictions on US military assistance to Israel.
The conflict’s toll has been significant, with Hamas’ attack on Israel resulting in 1,200 casualties according to Israeli counts.
Israel’s military offensive on Gaza has claimed over 33,000 lives, displaced much of the population, and sparked allegations of genocide, which Israel denies. The situation in the coastal enclave has also led to widespread hunger.
Despite Israel’s status as the largest recipient of US foreign aid since World War II, recent years have seen a shift in American priorities, particularly in light of the conflict in Ukraine following Russia’s invasion in 2022.
The United States’ longstanding defense of Israel in the UN Security Council has faced challenges, notably demonstrated by its abstention from a recent resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire.
