WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden on Tuesday said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was making a mistake on Gaza asking Israel to call for a ceasefire.
Biden made the remarks during an interview with Univision, a US Spanish-language TV network on Tuesday.
His comments were the strongest criticism of Netanyahu amid growing tensions over the civilian deaths in Israel’s war on Gaza.
“I think what he’s doing is a mistake. I don’t agree with his approach,” Biden said.
Biden added that an Israeli drone attack that killed seven aid workers from a US-based charity in Gaza last week was outrageous.
He asked Israel to reach a ceasefire, and allow for the next few weeks, total access to all food and medicine going into the besieged territory.
His remarks on a ceasefire show a complete shift from his previous comments, in which he has said the burden lies on Hamas for the Gaza situation.
Biden putting pressure on Israel
Biden also increased pressure on Israel to let more aid into the war hit Gaza Strip.
He strongly believed that there is no justification for not providing the medical and the food to the affected people.
The Biden interview underscored a major shift in his Israel policy since Israel’s killings of the World Central Kitchen aid workers in Gaza sparked outrage globally.
Biden in an intense call with Netanyahu last week warned him that the United States would be forced to change its policy if Israel did not change its approach on Gaza.
During the call on Thursday, Biden said Israel must allow more aid in Gaza and protect civilians.
According to the Gaza health ministry, Israeli relentless bombardment has killed at least 33,360 Palestinians, mostly women and children since October 7.
