Divisions between U.S. President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu burst out into the open again over the weekend as the two traded barbs in interviews over Israel鈥檚 war against Hamas in Gaza.
In a Saturday interview with MSNBC, Biden said Netanyahu was 鈥渉urting Israel more than helping Israel鈥� in his war on Gaza, adding that he wants 鈥渢o see a ceasefire鈥� in the context of a deal that also brings back Israeli hostages held there by Hamas.
Biden has for months warned that Israel risks losing international support over mounting civilian casualties in Gaza, where the death toll has passed 31,000.
Netanyahu in response said the American president was wrong in his assessment and fiercely defended his policies in Gaza, especially a looming ground operation into the southernmost city of Rafah that Biden and other world leaders have warned against.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know exactly what the president meant, but if he meant by that, that I鈥檓 pursuing private policies against the wish of the majority of Israelis, and that this is hurting the interests of Israel then he鈥檚 wrong on both counts,鈥� Netanyahu said in an interview with Politico and German media outlet Bild, referring to Biden鈥檚 remarks about the prime minister hurting Israel.
An estimated 1.5 million Palestinians are sheltering in Rafah, which has been under Israeli bombardment for weeks. Crammed into a sprawling tent city packed against the Egyptian border, families there are living with severe shortages of food, water, medicine and shelter, and the daily risk of being killed.
In his Saturday interview, Biden said that an Israeli invasion of Rafah would be a red line, before adding in the same breath that crossing it would not result in punitive measures against Israel.
鈥淚t is a red line, but I am never going to leave Israel,鈥� Biden said. 鈥淭he defense of Israel is still critical, so there鈥檚 no red line I鈥檓 going to cut off all weapons.鈥�
Netanyahu on Sunday said he intends to move forward with the invasion, despite Biden鈥檚 warning and regardless of a ceasefire-hostage deal. The operation would not last more than two months, he said, but did not provide specifics on the timeline.
鈥淲e鈥檒l go there. We鈥檙e not going to leave (Gaza),鈥� Netanyahu said Sunday in an interview with German outlet Axel Springer. 鈥淵ou know, I have a red line. You know what the red line is, that October 7 doesn鈥檛 happen again.鈥�
Two U.S. officials however told CNN the Biden administration is not anticipating that Israeli forces will imminently expand their military operations into Rafah.
As of this weekend, the Biden administration has yet to see any kind of humanitarian or evacuation plan from the Israeli government that seeks to ensure the safety of civilians in Rafah before launching a military operation there, the two U.S. officials said Sunday.
The U.S. has strongly supported Israel through its war in Gaza, which has so far killed more than 31,000 people and injured more than 72,000, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health.
The rising death toll, widespread destruction and unfolding humanitarian crisis have cast a shadow on Biden鈥檚 2024 reelection bid, as anger over his administration鈥檚 handling of Israel鈥檚 war sparked a campaign to convince Michigan Democratic voters to cast protest ballots.
Biden and Netanyahu have known each other for decades and have had disagreements even before October 7, including the president鈥檚 unease with the Israeli leader鈥檚 far-right government. As the conflict in Gaza has dragged on and pressure has grown from within his party to rein in Israel, Biden鈥檚 criticism has become more vocal.
Last month, Biden described the war as 鈥渙ver the top,鈥� one of his sharpest rebukes since the conflict began. Late last year, Biden and Netanyahu publicly sparred with over plans for post-war Gaza.
The rhetoric from the administration has only grown stronger of late. Vice President Kamala Harris last week called for 鈥渁n immediate ceasefire鈥� and for more humanitarian aid into Gaza, 鈥済iven the immense scale of suffering鈥� in the enclave.
鈥淚t (Israel) cannot have 30,000 more Palestinians dead,鈥� Biden told MSNBC Saturday. And in a statement marking the start of the Islamic month of Ramadan the same day, the president said that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is 鈥渇ront of mind鈥� for many, including him. 鈥淢ore than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed, most of them civilians, including thousands of children,鈥� he said.
In a candid moment caught on a hot mic, Biden revealed his frustration with Netanyahu after his State of the Union speech last week.
鈥淚 told him, Bibi 鈥� and don鈥檛 repeat this 鈥� but you and I are going to have a come to Jesus meeting,鈥� Biden was heard telling Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Senator Michael Bennett.
Asked about the moment, Biden told MSNBC the comment meant he intends to have a serious meeting soon with Netanyahu. 鈥淚鈥檝e known Bibi for 50 years, and he knew what I meant by it.鈥�
鈥淲hat鈥檚 happening is that he has a right to defend Israel, a right to continue to pursue Hamas,鈥� Biden said.
鈥淏ut he must, he must, he must, he must, pay more attention to the innocent lives being lost as a consequence of the actions taken.鈥�
