After weeks of growing international pressure on Israel — over both the humanitarian situation and the growing death toll in Gaza — US Pres. Joe Biden issued some of his harshest criticism yet of Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu.
"I think what he’s doing is a mistake," Biden told Univision, a US Spanish-language TV network, in an interview released on Tuesday. "I don’t agree with his approach," Biden added.
The US leader further said that he had spoken with representatives of several countries including Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia, stating that they were all prepared to assist with the delivery of aid into Gaza.
Pres. Biden's recent comments underscore the growing rift between himself and Netanyahu. The US leader has sent a clear signal that unless Israel changes course in Gaza, America will have to re-evaluate its policies with the country.
Israel has been working hard to increase the amount of aid going into Gaza, resulting in the largest numbers of trucks entering the enclave since the start of the war. A US official has confirmed there has been no change policy with respect to Israel, so speculation of a diplomatic breakdown will just create unnecessary instability.