Former Obama aide criticizes Biden’s response to Israeli strike as “weak”

According to former President Barack Obama’s speechwriter Jon Favreau, reports of President Joe Biden being enraged over an Israel Defense Forces airstrike that killed seven humanitarian aid workers in Gaza only serve to make him appear weak because he is not using his position to bring about any change.

“The President doesn’t get credit for being ‘privately enraged’ when he still refuses to use leverage to stop the IDF from killing and starving innocent people,” Favreau tweeted on Wednesday, as reported by The Washington Examiner. “These stories only make him look weak.”

Favreau’s comment was in response to a Politico report that quoted senior officials stating that Biden has no plans to change his policies on Israel and its conflict with Hamas, despite his reported anger over the airstrikes that killed aid workers associated with World Central Kitchen.

Celebrity chef Jose Andres, the founder of World Central Kitchen, told Reuters that the aid workers were killed in what he described as a targeted attack by the Israeli military.

The White House confirmed that thousands of civilians, including over 200 aid workers, have died in Gaza since the conflict began in October.

Republicans have criticized Biden for directing his anger towards Israel rather than Hamas, the group responsible for initiating the conflict with its attacks on Israel.

Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., expressed his frustration on Twitter, emphasizing the need for Biden to prioritize the safety of American and Israeli hostages held by Hamas.

Biden is scheduled to speak with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday to address the protection of humanitarian workers and the increase in food shipments to Gaza.