Observers warn of growing rift between leaders as Israel-Gaza war casts grim shadow over region during holy month
US President Joe Biden and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sparred publicly on the eve of Ramadan, with no ceasefire to the Israel-Gaza war on the horizon.
Mr Netanyahu on Sunday said Mr Biden was “wrong” that Israel’s approach to the war in Gaza was self-defeating.
A day before, Mr Biden told a US news channel that while Israel has a right to defend itself, Mr Netanyahu has to do more to protect innocent civilians in Gaza.
The tense exchange comes as the prospects of a ceasefire before Ramadan, which begins on Monday, appear to be dim.
The Biden administration and allies in the region for weeks have been working on securing a six-week pause in the war by the start of the fasting month.
Mr Biden has also warned the Netanyahu government against an all-out offensive on the city of Rafah in southern Gaza, where about 1.4 million people are believed to be sheltering.
Mr Biden wants a six-week pause in war during which hostages held by Hamas can be released in exchange for Palestinian detainees held in Israeli prisoners.
The pause in fighting would also enable the entry of much-needed humanitarian aid.
Critics say Mr Biden, who is running for re-election on November, has not used the US’s substantial influence – including billions of dollars in military aid – to force Israel to agree to a ceasefire and allow more relief into the enclave, and is instead going around Israel.
After months of US efforts to get Israel to allow sufficient and sustained aid into Gaza by land, on Sunday, an American ship set sail for Gaza as part of an international plan to deliver aid to the enclave by sea, a mission that will take weeks to complete.
And last week, the US began dropping food into the strip.
Martin Indyk, a former US ambassador to Israel, said that Mr Biden is intending to adopt a tougher line with Mr Netanyahu, but is unlikely to cut or place conditions on military aid to Israel.
“[Biden] is intending to get tough with Netanyahu,” Mr Indyk said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. “An Israeli attack on Rafah is a red line.
“Bottom line: Unless Netanyahu changes course, a confrontation with Biden is coming.”
Illustrating the tension between the leaders, Mr Biden was recorded on Thursday saying that he told Mr Netanyahu that the two were headed for a “come to Jesus” conversation over the issue of humanitarian aid to Gaza
“I told him, Bibi, and don’t repeat this, but you and I are going to have a ‘come to Jesus’ meeting,” Mr Biden said, using Mr Netanyahu’s nickname.
He was having a conversation with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Transport Secretary Pete Buttigieg and a Colorado Democratic senator after his State of the Union address.
“I’m on a hot mic here. Good. That’s good,” Mr Biden said.
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