Washington, DC – US President Joe Biden has implied that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may be prolonging the war in Gaza for political gain, underscoring the growing tensions between the two leaders.
In an interview with TIME Magazine published on Tuesday, Biden said there is “every reason for people to draw” the conclusion that Netanyahu is extending the conflict to serve his political interests.
These remarks come as Biden’s administration pushes for a truce and an exchange of captives between Israel and Hamas, which Washington believes could lead to a lasting ceasefire and the eventual rebuilding of Gaza. While the US has framed this proposal as an Israeli initiative, they argue that Hamas remains the primary obstacle to achieving this deal.
Hours after Biden publicly shared the proposal, Hamas stated that it was responding “positively and constructively,” though no formal response has been made. Netanyahu, meanwhile, insists that the agreement would allow Israel to continue its war until it achieves its objectives, including the dismantling of Hamas’s military and political infrastructure.
Confusion Over US and Israeli Proposals
The apparent discrepancy in how US and Israeli officials have portrayed the truce plan has caused confusion. Biden, who initially rejected a permanent end to the war, emphasized on Friday that an “indefinite war in pursuit of total victory” would only further isolate Israel and exhaust its resources.
Before the conflict erupted on October 7, Netanyahu was facing national protests over his controversial judicial overhaul and ongoing corruption charges. Critics, including Palestinian rights advocates, have long warned that Netanyahu might have a personal and political motive for continuing the conflict, as recent polls show his popularity rising during the war, outpacing his rival, Benny Gantz.
While Biden has voiced concerns, he denied in a later interview that Netanyahu was playing politics with the war, saying, “I don’t think so. He’s trying to deal with a serious problem.”
War’s Impact on US Politics
In the US, Biden’s support for Israel could damage his re-election chances, with polls indicating growing discontent among Arab, Muslim, and young voters.
Although Biden has previously been a staunch defender of Israel’s war efforts, vetoing several UN Security Council resolutions calling for a ceasefire and approving $14 billion in additional military aid to Israel, his remarks to TIME suggest increasing frustration with Netanyahu’s handling of the war.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Karim Khan is seeking arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Israeli Defense Minister Yaov Gallant, and Hamas leaders over alleged war crimes, though Biden has publicly rejected the ICC’s actions.
The ongoing Israeli offensive has claimed more than 36,500 Palestinian lives and pushed Gaza to the brink of famine. Biden acknowledged in the interview that it remains “uncertain” whether Israel is committing war crimes in Gaza, though he previously criticized Israel’s “indiscriminate bombing” of the territory as a potential war crime.
