Washington DC – US President Joe Biden has suggested that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is prolonging the war on Gaza for political reasons, an accusation that highlights apparent tensions between the two leaders.
In an interview with TIME magazine published Tuesday, the US president said there was “every reason for people to draw” the conclusion that Netanyahu is perpetuating the conflict for his own political purposes.
Biden’s remarks come as his administration pushes for a truce deal and prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas that Washington says would lead to a “lasting ceasefire” and the eventual reconstruction of Gaza.
The United States has presented the proposal as an Israeli plan, arguing that Hamas is the only obstacle to the deal.
The Palestinian group said Friday — hours after Biden made the proposal public — that it was treating the plan in a “positive and constructive” manner, but it did not issue a formal response on the matter.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu said the deal “would allow Israel to continue the war until all of its objectives are achieved, including the destruction of Hamas’ military and government capabilities.”
The discrepancy between how U.S. and Israeli officials present the proposal has caused confusion.
The move nonetheless marks a shift in position from the Biden administration, which had previously rejected a definitive end to the war, arguing that Israel must eliminate Hamas before a lasting ceasefire can be reached.
Biden on Friday criticized Israel’s war efforts. “An indefinite war in pursuit of an unidentified notion of ‘total victory’ will only bog Israel down in Gaza, draining economic, military and human resources and deepening Israel’s isolation around the world,” he said. he declared.
The US president’s remarks to TIME magazine about Netanyahu appear to further underscore his growing frustration with the conflict.
Before war broke out on October 7, Netanyahu was grappling with nationwide protests in Israel over reform of the country’s justice system. The Israeli prime minister also faces accusations of corruption in his country.
For months, Palestinian rights advocates have warned that Netanyahu has a personal and political interest in prolonging the war to strengthen his position in Israel and extend his political career.
Recent surveys in Israel show Netanyahu regaining popularity amid the war and ahead of his main rival, War Minister Benny Gantz.
Later Tuesday, Biden was asked if he thought Netanyahu was playing politics with the war. He said: “I don’t think so. He’s trying to solve a serious problem.
Israeli officials close to Netanyahu have already raised the possibility of a prolonged conflict in Gaza.
Days before Biden unveiled the truce proposal, Israeli national security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi said fighting in Gaza would continue for at least seven more months.
In the United States, Biden’s response to the Gaza war could hurt his re-election chances, with opinion polls showing Arab, Muslim and young voters reluctant to vote for the Democratic president because of his support for Israel .
Biden, a self-described Zionist, had been a staunch advocate of the war. His administration vetoed three draft United Nations Security Council resolutions that would have called for a ceasefire.
The US president also approved an additional $14 billion in military aid to Israel in April. And his administration has continued to transfer weapons to the country despite growing allegations of war crimes, including withholding aid, killing noncombatants, torturing detainees and targeting civilian infrastructure.
International Criminal Court prosecutor Karim Khan is seeking an arrest warrant for Netanyahu and his Defense Minister Yaov Gallant as well as Hamas leaders for alleged war crimes.
Last month, Biden rejected the ICC prosecutor’s decision and called it “outrageous,” but the White House has opposed congressional efforts to impose sanctions on ICC officials over their investigation into Israeli conduct.
The Israeli offensive has killed more than 36,500 Palestinians and brought Gaza to the brink of famine.
In his interview with TIME Magazine, Biden said it was “uncertain” whether Israel would commit war crimes in Gaza.
In December, Biden said Israel was losing support for its war on Gaza because of its “indiscriminate bombing” of the territory – a war crime.