US President Joe Biden upped his criticism of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, though he did not indicate any significant changes in US policy toward Israel.
"I think what he’s doing is a mistake," Biden said in an interview with Univision, which was quoted in NBC News, in response to a question about whether Netanyahu is more concerned about political survival than Israelis’ national interest.
"I don’t agree with his approach," Biden added in the interview that was taped last Wednesday and which will air on Tuesday night.
Biden told Univision that he is calling for Israelis "to just call for a ceasefire, allow for the next six, eight weeks total access to all food and medicine going into the country."
"I’ve spoken with everyone from the Saudis to the Jordanians to the Egyptians. They’re prepared to move in," Biden continued. "They’re prepared to move this food in. And I think there’s no excuse to not provide for the medical and the food needs of those people. It should be done now."
While Biden was initially supportive of Israel’s war against Hamas, he has become increasingly critical of the Israeli government’s conduct.
Last Thursday, Biden and Netanyahu held a phone call, during which, according to the White House, the President “made clear the need for Israel to announce and implement a series of specific, concrete, and measurable steps to address civilian harm, humanitarian suffering, and the safety of aid workers. He made clear that US policy with respect to Gaza will be determined by our assessment of Israel’s immediate action on these steps.”
US officials later told NBC News that Biden warned Netanyahu during the call that the US could condition military aid to Israel on what it does to address humanitarian concerns in Gaza and get to a ceasefire as soon as possible.
Asked on Friday if he had threatened to stop the aid to Israel, the President would only reply, “I asked them to do what they’re doing.”
Biden also said recently that Netanyahu should be doing more to provide aid to the Strip.