The far-right Israeli minister's criticism of Biden sparks anger at a sensitive time for American ties
The Biden administration has bypassed Congress to ship weapons to Israel and shielded the country from international calls for a ceasefire in the four months since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack that sparked the war.
Jerusalem: Criticism of President Joe Biden by a far-right minister in the Israeli government, who said Donald Trump would allow more freedom to fight Hamas, sparked outrage there on Sunday and highlighted the sensitivity of relations as Washington provides key support for the offensive against the militants in Gaza.
The Biden administration has bypassed Congress to ship weapons to Israel and shielded the country from international calls for a ceasefire in the four months since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack that sparked the war. But the White House has urged Israel to take greater action to prevent harm to civilians and facilitate the delivery of more aid to besieged Gaza. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is visiting Israel again this week on his latest trip to the region.
Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel's minister of national security, said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal that Biden was hindering Israel's war efforts.
“Instead of giving us his full support, Biden is busy giving humanitarian aid and fuel (to Gaza), which goes to Hamas,” Ben-Gvir said. “If Trump were in power, American behavior would be completely different.”
His comments caught the attention of Benny Gantz, a retired general and member of Netanyahu's three-member war cabinet, who said Ben-Gvir was “causing enormous damage” to US-Israeli relations. Opposition leader Yair Lapid, who also posted on X, said Ben-Gvir's comments prove he “doesn't understand foreign relations.”
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry condemned Ben-Gvir's comments as “racist” and called for international sanctions against him, saying he threatens the stability of the region.
Netanyahu, without mentioning Ben-Gvir by name, appeared to refer to his comments as he addressed a weekly cabinet meeting. The prime minister thanked Biden for his support while highlighting his own experience dealing with multiple US administrations' approach to Israel's key alliance.
“There are people who say 'no' to everything and get applause at home, but who also endanger vital interests,” he said.
Ben-Gvir, along with other far-right figures, has called for “voluntary” mass emigration of Palestinians from Gaza and the return of Jewish settlements, which Israel dismantled when it withdrew troops from the area in 2005. The Biden administration is opposed to this. for such a scenario.
Ben-Gvir and other key members of Netanyahu's ruling coalition have threatened to topple the government if they believe he is too soft on Hamas. Netanyahu told the cabinet that the army was carrying out “very aggressive attacks” in northern and central Gaza while dealing with the remaining Hamas battalions around Gaza's southernmost city of Rafah.
The war in Gaza has razed large parts of the small enclave, displaced 85% of the population and pushed a quarter of its residents to famine. The Health Ministry in Gaza said 127 bodies were taken to hospitals in the past 24 hours, bringing the total death toll to 27,365. The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and fighters, but says most of the dead were women and children.
In central Gaza, Israeli airstrikes hit a house and mosque in Deir al-Balah, killing 15 people and wounding at least 45 others, including children, an Associated Press journalist at the scene said. At Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, a man cried next to a body covered in blankets.
Other Palestinians found shelter in the hospital, but little relief. 'Someone like me has been here for three or two and a half months, and I haven't showered. What can we do? We want to go back to our home,” said Basemah Al-Haddad, who was displaced from Gaza City.
According to the registration office of the hospital where the bodies were taken, two children were killed in separate airstrikes in Rafah. The first hit a house in the Jeneina refugee camp and killed a 12-year-old. The second hit a room west of the Rafah border crossing, killing a 2-year-old child.
The bodies lay on the hospital floor. A female relative bent down to gently touch a child's face.
More aid to Gaza will be a “top priority” when Blinken visits the region, Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, told CBS.
Blinken will start his visit in Saudi Arabia on Monday and will also make stops in Egypt, Qatar, Israel and the West Bank.
Another focus is Israel's tense negotiations, brokered by the US, Qatar and Egypt, aimed at freeing more than 100 remaining prisoners captured in the October 7 Hamas attack in exchange for a ceasefire and the release of Palestinians imprisoned in Israel.
“It is up to Hamas to come forward and respond to this serious proposal,” Sullivan told NBC, adding that there is no clear idea how many of the hostages are still alive.
Hamas and other militants killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in the October 7 attack and kidnapped about 250 people. More than 100 prisoners, mostly women and children, were released during a week-long ceasefire in November in exchange for the release of 240 people. Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.
Hamas has said it will not release any more hostages until Israel ends its offensive. It also demands the release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners. Netanyahu has publicly rejected both demands.
Hamas is expected to respond to the latest ceasefire offer in the coming days.