Biden’s Commentary on Gaza Conflict: Netanyahu’s Decision
US President Joe Biden has openly criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s approach to handling the Gaza situation, labeling it a “mistake.” Biden stressed the urgent need for Gaza to receive “unrestricted access to all food and medicine” in the next six to eight weeks, cautioning that ongoing US support for the conflict depends on Israel allowing more humanitarian aid into the region.
Israel has refuted claims of impeding aid entry into Gaza and instead accused UN agencies of inadequately distributing permitted aid. Despite weeks of negotiations, a ceasefire agreement has not materialized, though global pressure for a resolution continues to escalate.
Biden’s remarks followed Israeli military strikes that resulted in the deaths of seven aid workers from World Central Kitchen. Biden condemned the drone-targeted aid convoy as “outrageous,” prompting the Israeli Defense Forces to acknowledge “serious errors” leading to the fatal incident, resulting in the dismissal of two senior officers.
During his interview, Biden reiterated his plea for a ceasefire, urging Israel to grant unrestricted access to food and medicine for the next six to eight weeks. He underscored the significance of Hamas agreeing to a cessation of hostilities and the release of remaining hostages.
Israel recently committed to opening a crossing to northern Gaza and a deep-water port to facilitate increased aid flow into the region. However, Biden faces mounting domestic pressure regarding US support for Israel, particularly over its conduct in the six-month-old conflict, particularly targeting Netanyahu.
Despite Biden’s criticisms, military aid from the US to Israel, including bombs, missiles, and ammunition, remains uninterrupted. The conflict was triggered by a Hamas-led assault on southern Israeli border communities on October 7, resulting in casualties and hostages taken.
According to Israeli reports, of the 130 hostages still in Gaza, at least 34 have been confirmed dead. The ongoing conflict has inflicted significant casualties, with over 33,000 Gazans, mostly civilians, killed during Israel’s offensive in Gaza since the October attack, as per the Hamas-run health ministry.
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