In an interview with US Spanish-language television Univision published on Tuesday, the 9th of April, US President Joe Biden criticised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s approach to the war in Gaza, calling it a “mistake”, in the strongest criticism yet of Israel’s handling of the conflict, reports Reuters.
“I think what he is doing is a mistake. I don’t agree with his approach,” Biden said, commenting on the situation.
The White House said last week that the president, in a conversation with Netanyahu after the Israeli air strike that killed seven World Central Kitchen workers, threatened that US support for Israel would depend on it taking concrete steps to protect aid workers and civilians.
“I call on Israel to simply call for a ceasefire, to provide full access over the next six, eight weeks
to all food and medicine coming into the country,” Biden added. “I have spoken to everyone from Saudi Arabia, Jordan to the Egyptians. They are ready. They are ready to bring in food. And I don’t think there is any excuse for not providing medical and food necessities. It has to be done now.”
Israel’s military actions in Gaza have drawn international criticism, while inside the country President Biden has faced protests calling for a permanent ceasefire and a cut on US military aid to Israel.
Israel is the largest recipient of US foreign aid since the Second World War, although in the last two years aid to Ukraine has been higher than to Israel, considering the aid after the Russian invasion in 2022.
According to Israeli figures, the 7th of October Hamas attack killed 1 200 people and Israel’s subsequent assault on the Gaza Strip has claimed more than 33 000 lives, according to the Hamas-run ministry, and forced millions of civilians to flee their homes as well as raising accusations of genocide, which Israel denies. The situation in the coastal enclave is also marked by severe famine.
Also read: Israel says it will open new aid routes to Gaza
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