President Joe Biden offered his sharpest criticism yet of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza on Thursday, describing the airstrikes as “over the top” and pushing for an immediate ceasefire. His remarks signal growing impatience with Israel’s prolonged offensive against Hamas.
In an unplanned interaction with reporters, Biden said he has been “really hard” in urging more humanitarian aid access to Gaza where over 27,000 people have been killed as per Palestinian authorities. He stated, “there are a lot of innocent people who are starving. There are a lot of innocent people who are in trouble and dying. And it’s got to stop.”
The president’s reproach represents his most pointed condemnation of Israel’s fierce retaliation after the Oct. 7 Hamas rocket attack that killed an estimated 1,200 Israelis. While supporting Israel’s right to self-defense, Biden has privately pressed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to avoid civilian casualties and back a two-state solution.
However, a diplomatic resolution remains elusive as Netanyahu has publicly dismissed ceasefire efforts. Hamas’ counterproposal for halting hostilities was rejected by Israel which insists on “total victory.”
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Biden revealed he convinced Egypt President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to open up aid access to Gaza, contrary to initial reluctance. The president has been negotiating with regional leaders to broker an extended truce in exchange for releasing over 100 Israeli hostages still held by Hamas. But Netanyahu has termed Hamas’ demands “ludicrous.”
The White House remains concerned that a risky Israeli ground offensive into Gaza city of Rafah, sheltering over 1 million civilians, could spiral into a humanitarian catastrophe. Biden’s criticism underscores allied frustration with the rising civilian death toll despite repeated calls for restraint.
The US administration believes Hamas may have strategically timed the Oct. 7 attack to derail progress in Israeli-Saudi ties and Palestinian peace efforts. However, Biden admitted he lacks definitive proof of this theory.
At home, the president has faced growing pressure from Democrats to rein in Netanyahu’s hardline response that has ravaged Gaza. But he must also tread carefully to avoid alienating pro-Israel sentiments within both parties in Congress.
As efforts to secure an enduring ceasefire continue, the Gaza conflict has turned into a delicate balancing act for Biden. He seeks to inject US leadership and empathy for Palestinian suffering while affirming an unflinching commitment to Israeli security.
But Netanyahu’s dismissal of Biden’s advice coupled with public impatience has forced the White House to recalibrate its approach. The president’s blunt message marks a pivot to more clearly convey American objections to Israel’s military actions in hopes of expediting a return to calm.