United States President Joe Biden has noted that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is extending the war on Gaza for political benefits, a statement highlighting the apparent friction between the two leaders.
In a candid interview with TIME Magazine, published on Tuesday, President Biden remarked that there is "every reason for people to draw" the conclusion that Netanyahu is perpetuating the conflict for his own political ends.
The remarks coincide with the Biden administration's efforts to broker a truce and a captives exchange deal between Israel and Hamas, which Washington believes could lead to a lasting ceasefire and the reconstruction of Gaza. The US has presented the proposal as an Israeli initiative, asserting that Hamas remains the primary impediment to the agreement.
In response, Hamas stated on Friday that it is engaging with the proposal "positively and constructively," although a formal reply has not been issued.
Prime Minister Netanyahu, however, has indicated that the proposed deal would allow Israel to continue its military operations until all objectives are met, including the complete dismantling of Hamas’s military and governance structures. This divergence in portrayals of the proposal by US and Israeli officials has generated considerable confusion.
President Biden's recent criticisms of Israel's military strategy underscore his growing frustration. “Indefinite war in pursuit of an unidentified notion of ‘total victory’ will … only bog down Israel in Gaza, draining economic, military, and human resources, and furthering Israel’s isolation in the world,” he stated.
Prior to the conflict, Netanyahu faced significant domestic challenges, including widespread protests over his judicial overhaul plans and ongoing corruption charges.
Political analysts and Palestinian rights advocates have long warned that Netanyahu has personal, political incentives to extend the war, potentially to bolster his standing within Israel and prolong his political career. Recent polls suggest that Netanyahu’s popularity has surged amidst the conflict, surpassing his main rival, war cabinet minister Benny Gantz.
The possibility of a protracted conflict was hinted at by Israeli officials close to Netanyahu. Just days before the truce proposal was announced, Israel’s National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi predicted that the fighting in Gaza could continue for at least another seven months.
In the US, Biden's stance on the Gaza war poses risks to his re-election campaign, with polls indicating waning support among Arab, Muslim, and young voters due to his unwavering support for Israel.
Despite his self-proclaimed Zionist stance, President Biden has faced backlash for his administration’s vetoes of UN Security Council resolutions calling for a ceasefire and his approval of $14 billion in additional military aid to Israel.
Amidst growing allegations of war crimes by Israeli forces, including the targeting of civilian infrastructure and killing non-combatants, International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Karim Khan is pursuing arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leaders.
President Biden has condemned the ICC's move as "outrageous" but has opposed congressional efforts to sanction ICC officials for their investigation into Israeli conduct.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in the deaths of more than 36,500 Palestinians and has brought Gaza to the brink of famine. While President Biden has expressed uncertainty about Israel committing war crimes, he acknowledged in December that Israel was losing support for its war on Gaza due to its "indiscriminate bombing" of the territory, which constitutes a war crime under international law.
