(Washington) President Joe Biden spoke out Tuesday against the policy pursued by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Gaza Strip, calling it a “mistake,” and calling on Israel to conclude a ceasefire.
“I think what he’s doing is wrong. I do not agree with his approach,” the American president said in an interview with the Spanish-language channel Univision, in response to a question about Israel’s conduct of the war.
These are among the US president’s harshest comments against the Israeli leader as the United States displays growing impatience with the ongoing humanitarian disaster in the Palestinian territory besieged by the Israeli army.
He also considered it “scandalous” that the humanitarian convoy of the NGO World Central Kitchen was targeted by an Israeli strike, killing seven members of the NGO.
“What I’m asking is that the Israelis call for a ceasefire, that they allow for the next six or eight weeks, full access to food and medicine coming into the country,” he said. Mr. Biden.
He spoke by telephone last week with Mr. Netanyahu, raising for the first time the possibility of conditioning American aid to Israel on “tangible” measures on this humanitarian situation.
PHOTO LEO CORREA, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE ARCHIVES
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
The American president again said he spoke with “everyone, from the Saudis, to the Jordanians and the Egyptians. They’re ready to go. They are ready to bring in this food.”
“I believe there is no excuse for not providing medicine and food to people in need. This must happen now,” he said.
The United States provides billions of dollars in military aid to Israel, but demands that Israel do more to allow the entry of humanitarian aid.
While they welcomed the initial measures announced by Israel such as the “temporary” opening of new crossing points in Gaza, particularly at Erez in the north, they are awaiting “results”.
Relatives of American hostages held by Hamas in Gaza were also received by Vice-President Kamala Harris at the White House while negotiations for a truce in Gaza accompanied by the release of the hostages continue.
“We want results. We want our loved ones to return,” Rachel Goldberg, whose son Hersh Goldberg-Polin is among the hostages, told reporters.