The recent criticism of President Joe Biden by a far-right minister in Israel's government has sparked outrage and raised concerns about the sensitivity of U.S.-Israel relations during the ongoing offensive against Hamas in Gaza. Although the Biden administration has expressed unwavering support for Israel since the war began, it has also encouraged Israel to prioritize the protection of civilians and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
The criticism came from Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel's national security minister, who expressed his dissatisfaction with the current approach taken by the Biden administration. Ben-Gvir argued that Biden's focus on providing humanitarian aid and fuel to Gaza was hindering Israel's efforts in the war against Hamas. He suggested that if former President Donald Trump were in power, the United States would have taken a different approach that provided Israel with more freedom to combat Hamas.
Ben-Gvir's remarks drew sharp criticism from Benny Gantz, a retired general and member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's War Cabinet. Gantz accused Ben-Gvir of causing significant damage to American-Israeli relations and emphasized the need to address disputes through appropriate channels rather than making irresponsible statements in the media. Opposition leader Yair Lapid also condemned Ben-Gvir's comments, stating that they demonstrated a lack of understanding of foreign relations and highlighted Netanyahu's failure to control extremists within his coalition.
Netanyahu, without explicitly mentioning Ben-Gvir, indirectly referred to the criticism during a weekly Cabinet meeting, expressing his gratitude for Biden's support. The prime minister stressed the importance of maintaining a give-and-take approach with various U.S. administrations, even in times of disagreement, as it is crucial for Israel's vital interests.
It is worth noting that Ben-Gvir and other far-right figures in Israel have called for the voluntary mass emigration of Palestinians from Gaza and the return of Jewish settlements, which Israel had dismantled in 2005. However, the Biden administration opposes any such scenarios.
The timing of this dispute is particularly precarious as Netanyahu faces pressure from both the U.S. and the international community to scale back the offensive. Simultaneously, key members of his coalition, including Ben-Gvir, have threatened to bring down the government if they perceive Netanyahu as being too soft on Hamas.
Furthermore, negotiations led by the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt are currently underway to secure the release of more than 100 captives held by Hamas in exchange for a cease-fire and the liberation of Palestinians imprisoned in Israel.
The war in Gaza has resulted in significant devastation, with vast areas of the besieged territory destroyed, 85% of the population displaced, and a quarter of residents experiencing severe food shortages. In the last 24 hours alone, the Gaza Health Ministry reported 127 casualties, bringing the overall death toll from the four-month-long conflict to 27,365. The majority of those killed were women and children, although the precise numbers are difficult to ascertain due to many casualties still buried in the rubble or inaccessible to responders.
In response to the dire situation, thousands of people gathered in Tel Aviv for protests over the weekend, decrying Netanyahu's handling of the war and advocating for the safe return of the hostages. Family members of the captives, with broad public support, are calling on Israel to reach an agreement with Hamas to secure their release. However, Hamas has stated that it will not release any more hostages until Israel ends its offensive and demands the release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners.
Netanyahu has categorically rejected both demands from Hamas. The militant group is expected to respond to the latest cease-fire offer in the coming days, furthering the uncertainty surrounding the ongoing conflict.
The controversy surrounding Ben-Gvir's criticism of President Biden highlights the delicate nature of U.S.-Israel relations during this challenging time. As the conflict persists and negotiations intensify, finding a path towards de-escalation and a lasting resolution becomes increasingly imperative.
