Joe Biden criticizes Benjamin Netanyahu’s Gaza strategy as a ‘mistake,’ according to US News
Joe Biden has criticized Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of the Gaza conflict as a “mistake”.
The US president has openly voiced his disapproval of the Israeli prime minister’s military offensive.
“I think what he’s doing is a mistake. I don’t agree with his approach,” Mr Biden said in comments to Univision, a Spanish-language US TV network.
“What I’m calling for is for the Israelis to just call for a ceasefire, allow for the next six, eight weeks, total access to all food and medicine going into the country,” the president added.
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Date for Rafah offensive ‘bravado’ – US officials
The interview was conducted last week and published on Tuesday.
Mr Biden has previously described Israel’s bombing in Gaza as “indiscriminate” and its military actions as “over the top.”
As Muslims in Gaza observe Eid, they are faced with the ongoing threat of an Israeli army offensive in Rafah, where over a million Palestinians are seeking shelter.
Palestinians holding Eid al-Fitr prayers by the ruins of al Farouk mosque in Rafah. Pic: Reuters
The White House stated last week that during a call with Mr Netanyahu, the president threatened to condition US support for Israel’s offensive on concrete actions to protect aid workers and civilians.
This call came after an Israeli airstrike that killed seven staff from the aid group World Central Kitchen.
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Despite calls to halt arms sales to Israel, Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron stated that the UK’s stance remains “unchanged”.
This was in response to inquiries about whether Israel’s actions in Gaza have breached international law.
Notable voices, including three former Supreme Court judges, along with over 600 lawyers, have urged the UK government to cease arms sales to Israel, warning of potential complicity in genocide in Gaza.
The UK provided £42m worth of arms to Israel in 2022.
