Netanyahu is a ‘mistake’ — Joe Biden as he calls for Israel ceasefire

In an interview published on Tuesday, U.S. President Joe Biden voiced criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of the conflict in Gaza, describing it as a “mistake.”

Speaking to Univision, a U.S. Spanish-language TV network, Biden expressed disagreement with Netanyahu’s approach.

The Biden administration has previously condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza, labeling its bombing as “indiscriminate” and its military operations as “over the top.”

Last week, the White House revealed that Biden, in a call with Netanyahu, had threatened to condition U.S. support for Israel’s offensive on concrete steps to protect aid workers and civilians.

This followed an Israeli airstrike that resulted in the deaths of seven aid group staff members.

During the interview, Biden reiterated his call for Israel to declare a ceasefire and allow unrestricted access to food and medicine for the next several weeks.

Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has drawn mounting international criticism. Domestically, Biden has faced protests from anti-war activists, Muslims, and Arab Americans, who have demanded a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and limitations on U.S. military aid to Israel.

The conflict escalated following an attack by Hamas on Israel in October, which resulted in casualties on both sides.

According to Israeli figures, Hamas’ attack killed 1,200 people, while Israel’s subsequent military assault on Gaza has reportedly claimed over 33,000 lives, displaced a significant portion of the population, and prompted allegations of genocide, which Israel denies. The region also faces widespread hunger.

Despite the criticism, Israel continues to receive substantial foreign aid from the United States, although funding and military support to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in 2022 have surpassed annual assistance to Israel in recent years.

Traditionally, the United States has shielded Israel in the UN Security Council, vetoing several draft resolutions on the Gaza conflict. However, last month, the U.S. abstained from a Security Council vote that called for an immediate ceasefire.