Biden: Netanyahu ‘Hurting Israel’ By Not Preventing More Civilian Deaths in Gaza

President Joe Biden said Saturday that he believes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is “hurting Israel more than helping Israel” in how he is approaching its war against Hamas in Gaza.

The U.S. leader expressed support for Israel’s right to pursue Hamas after the Oct. 7 attack, but said of Netanyahu that “he must pay more attention to the innocent lives being lost as a consequence of the actions taken.” Biden has for months warned that Israel risks losing international support over mounting civilian casualties in Gaza, and the latest remarks in an interview with MSNBC’s Jonathan Capehart pointed to the increasingly strained relationship between the two leaders.

Biden said of the death toll in Gaza, “it’s contrary to what Israel stands for. And I think it’s a big mistake.”

Biden said a potential Israeli invasion of the Gaza city of Rafah, where more than 1.3 million Palestinians are sheltering, is “a red line” for him, but said he would not cut off weapons like the Iron Dome missile interceptors which protect the Israeli civilian populace from rocket attacks in the region.

“It is a red line,” he said, when asked about Rafah, “but I’m never going to leave Israel. The defense of Israel is still critical, so there’s no red line I’m going to cut off all weapons so they don’t have the Iron Dome to protect them.”

....The U.S. leader had hoped to secure a temporary ceasefire before Ramadan begins next week, though that appears increasingly unlikely...

....Biden noted CIA Director Bill Burns is in the region currently trying to resurrect the deal.

Biden’s comments came after he was captured on a hot mic following Thursday night’s State of the Union address telling Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo. that he and the Israeli leader will need to have a “come to Jesus meeting.”

....Biden then responds using Netanyahu’s nickname, saying, “I told him, Bibi, and don’t repeat this, but you and I are going to have a ‘come to Jesus’ meeting.”

An aide to the president standing nearby then speaks quietly into the president’s ear, appearing to alert Biden that microphones remained on as he worked the room.

“I’m on a hot mic here,” Biden says after being alerted. “Good. That’s good.”

🔗Source: AP

Related: 3/6 — Related: Leaked US Cable Acknowledges ‘Catastrophic’ Cost Of Israel’s Rafah Invasion

2/26 — Netanyahu Says Hostage Deal Will Only Delay Attack on Rafah

2/19 — US Proposes UN Security Council Oppose Rafah Assault, Back Temporary Gaza Ceasefire

2/18 — Egypt Building Walled Camp in Sinai Desert to Absorb Palestinian Refugees from Gaza

2/13 — U.S. Gives Israel the Green Light to Kill Civilians in Rafah

2/13 — Biden Not Reconsidering ‘Unequivocal’ Support for Israel’s Gaza Slaughter

2/10 — Biden Admin Admits to ‘Missteps’ in Handling Gaza Genocide But Will Not Alter Policy

1/21 — Netanyahu Defies Biden, Insisting There’s ‘No Space’ For Palestinian State

12/15 — Israel Tells Washington To Stop Talk Of 'Two-state Solution'

12/12 — Biden In Sudden About-Face: Israel 'Losing Support' Due To 'Indiscriminate Bombing'

Substack | Twitter | Minds

📡 Follow:
@G3News