In an interview broadcast on Tuesday, US President Joe Biden considered Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s policy in Gaza “wrong” and urged Israel to call for a ceasefire.
Biden’s comments are among his strongest criticism of Netanyahu so far, amid growing tension over the high death toll among civilians due to the Israeli war on Hamas and the difficult conditions inside Gaza.
Biden told the American Spanish-language network “Univision” when asked about Netanyahu’s handling of the war, “I think what he is doing is wrong. I do not agree with his approach.”
Biden reiterated during the interview that the killing of seven aid workers last week in an Israeli raid in Gaza was “terrible.”
He added, “Therefore, what I am calling for is for the Israelis to call only for a ceasefire, and to allow, during the next six or eight weeks, full access to all food and medicine entering the country.”
Biden’s statements regarding the ceasefire represent a shift from his previous statements in which he said that the burden falls on Hamas to agree to a truce and an agreement to release prisoners.
Biden also intensified his pressure on Israel to allow more aid into Gaza. He added, “There is no excuse for not providing these people’s needs for food and medicine.”
The interview showed the major shift in Biden’s policy towards Israel since the killing of aid workers from the “Global Central Kitchen” in Gaza.
Washington threatens to change its policy
For his part, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said on Tuesday that Washington will change its policy with Israel unless Tel Aviv continues to change its policy in Gaza.
Sullivan told Al Arabiya and Al Hadath: “If Israel’s policy does not change on a permanent basis, our policy will change,” adding: “We expect Israel to take additional measures to alleviate the suffering of civilians in Gaza.”
In a related context, the White House said that direct talks between Israeli and American officials regarding the planned operation in the city of Rafah in Gaza will be held within two weeks.
Sullivan: Hamas’ position is “less than encouraging”
Sullivan also considered that the position issued by Hamas so far regarding a proposal that includes calm in Gaza and an exchange of prisoners is “less than encouraging.” He said: “We have seen the public statements issued by Hamas, and it can be said that they are less than encouraging.”
However, Sullivan said that, on Tuesday morning, he held talks with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who indicated that he “has not yet received a response from Hamas.”
The proposal was presented to Hamas during a “marathon” meeting held on Sunday in Cairo, according to Sullivan, in the presence of representatives of the Israeli government and Hamas through Egyptian, American, and Qatari mediators.
Sullivan added, “I urged him to try to obtain a response from them as quickly as possible, and whenever we obtain more information in this regard, we will inform you immediately.”
He stressed, “The time has come to conclude this ceasefire agreement. We are ready. I think Israel is ready. I think Hamas must come to the table and in turn be ready for that.”
Hamas announced on Tuesday that it was “studying the submitted proposal with all national responsibility, and will inform the mediators of its response once this is completed.”
In addition to a six-week ceasefire, the proposal initially stipulates the release of 42 Israeli prisoners in exchange for the release of 800 to 900 Palestinians detained by Israel, the entry of 400 to 500 trucks of food aid daily, and the return of displaced persons from northern Gaza to their towns, according to a source. From Hamas.
#Bilad #newspaper #Biden #Netanyahu #Gaza #wrong #fire #stopped #aid #brought