President Biden has intensified his critique of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's management of the conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Biden labeled Netanyahu's war strategy as a "misstep" and urged the Israeli leader to agree to a temporary cease-fire lasting up to two months. During this period, Biden emphasized that humanitarian organizations should have unrestricted access to provide food and medicine to Gaza.
"What he's doing is a misstep," Biden expressed to Spanish language broadcaster Univision when questioned about whether he believed Netanyahu prioritized "his political survival" over the security of the Israeli people.
"I do not support his approach," Biden stated in the interview broadcast on Tuesday evening. The interview was conducted earlier, two days following an Israeli military strike on a vehicle convoy transporting a World Central Kitchen charity team that was on a mission to deliver food to Gazans.
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The Israel Defense Forces attributed the incident to "errors in decision-making", which they referred to as a "serious mistake." However, the charity and other humanitarian organizations have rejected that explanation and accused the IDF of intentionally targeting the WCK workers.
"The attacks on those vehicles by drones on the highway are unacceptable," stated Mr. Biden in an interview with Univision. "I urge Israel to declare a ceasefire and allow unrestricted access for food and medicine into the country for the next six to eight weeks."
The President's comments were broadcast on Univision on Tuesday night, shortly after Vice President Kamala Harris met with the families of American hostages believed to be held by Hamas or other groups in Gaza.
"We demand action. We want our people back," expressed Jonathan Dekel-Chen, whose son is one of the remaining hostages. He raised doubts about Netanyahu's true intentions in securing the hostages' release, questioning if the Israeli leader is genuinely committed to their return or merely seeking to claim victory over Hamas.
"Israel's actions should not put the hostages at risk again," emphasized the father following the meeting with Vice President Harris.
Hamas is responsible for the deaths of approximately 1,200 individuals and the capture of over 200 hostages in a violent attack on southern Israel on October 7, triggering the current conflict. The health ministry in Gaza, under Hamas control, reports that Israel's military operations have resulted in the deaths of over 33,000 individuals, with a majority being women and children.
Amid mounting pressure from around the world, especially in the wake of the deadly strike on the WCK workers, Israel has pulled some of its forces out of southern Gaza in recent days. But the IDF says it's for the troops to regroup and prepare for future operations, and Netanyahu has vowed to complete his mission to "destroy Hamas" in Gaza.
The Israeli leader insists the only way to do that is to send IDF forces into the last major Gazan city that has so far been spared ground operations, Rafah. For weeks Israel told Palestinian civilians to seek shelter in southern Gaza, and an estimated 1.5 million people have crammed into Rafah. Netanyahu says Hamas still has combat units operating there, which Israel must hunt down.
Netanyahu said in a Monday video address that a date was set for a ground offensive in Rafah, but he didn't share any date, and U.S. officials say they haven't been given one privately, either.
"This is not the best way forward," White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Tuesday. "There are better ways to go after Hamas than Rafah."
The U.S. is continuing to work with Israel, Qatar and other regional partners on a deal for a cease-fire and the release of the remaining hostages — both the 100 still believed to be alive and the bodies of roughly 30 others who are dead.
"The ball is in Hamas' court," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Tuesday. "The world is watching to see what it does."
Amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has delivered a stark message, cautioning that failure on Israel's part to increase aid to Gaza and effectively distinguish between Palestinian civilians and Hamas militants in their military operations will only serve to "escalate violence" and breed more terrorists in the long run, rather than enhancing the safety of Israelis.
