Biden issued this denouncement during a closed-door political fundraiser held in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 12. His rebuke came amid a rising civilian death toll in Gaza as members of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) scour the Palestinian territory for Hamas members. Biden has also faced calls from the Democratic Party, which he is part of, to seek a ceasefire.
"[Israel is] starting to lose that support by indiscriminate bombing that takes place," said the U.S. president. "I think [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu] has to change, and with this government, this government in Israel is making it very difficult for him to move."
Biden also acknowledged that Netanyahu has "a tough decision to make," given that his government is "the most conservative … in Israel's history." This same government, Biden continued, is against a two-state solution. However, the U.S. president warned that the prospect of a Palestinian state is something Israel "can't say no" to.
"We have an opportunity to begin to unite the region, and they still want to do it. But we have to make sure that Bibi [Netanyahu] understands that he's got to make some moves to strengthen [this idea of unity]. You cannot say 'No Palestinian state.' That's going to be the hard part."
Biden's rebuke came hours after the Israeli leader flatly rejected Washington's plans for Palestine. Netanyahu ruled out any involvement for the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) – which controls the West Bank – in the Gaza Strip. The U.S. wants to see the PNA, which is controlled by the Fatah party, take control of Gaza.
"There is disagreement about 'the day after Hamas,' and I hope that we will reach (an) agreement here, as well," said Netanyahu.
"After the great sacrifice of our civilians and our soldiers, I will not allow the entry into Gaza of those who educate for terrorism, support terrorism and finance terrorism. Gaza will be neither 'Hamastan' nor 'Fatahstan.'"
Biden also sets his sights on Ben-Gvir
Israel's bombing of Gaza serves as retaliation against Hamas' Oct. 7 attack. More than 1,200 were killed and more than 240 were abducted in that attack, but the death toll from Israel's bombings has exceeded that of the original. "Nearly 16,000 Palestinians have been killed and most of Gaza's 2.3 million inhabitants have been displaced since the war began," the Associated Press wrote. (Related: Gaza media office: Israel has dropped 40,000 tons of bombs since October 7, dwarfing the size of the Hiroshima explosion.)
"With little aid allowed into Gaza, Palestinians face severe food shortages along with a lack of water and other basic goods. Some worry that Palestinians will be forced out of the territory altogether."
But hours after the closed-door fundraiser, Biden refrained from openly denouncing Netanyahu during a press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Nevertheless, the American leader said he had made it clear to Israel that "the safety of innocent Palestinians is still of great concern."
"The actions they’re taking must be consistent with attempting to do everything possible to prevent innocent Palestinian civilians from being hurt, murdered, killed [and] lost. We're here to support Israel because they're an independent nation and the way in which Hamas treated Israel is beyond comparison."
Biden specifically called out Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who leads the far-right Otzma Yehudit party in the Knesset. Ben-Gvir vehemently opposes a two-state solution and has called for Israel to reassert control over all of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
Both Hamas and the IDF responded to Biden's comments.
"We know to explain exactly how we operate with precision, based on intelligence, even when we are operating on the ground," said Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the IDF's spokesman. "We know how to operate against the Hamas strongholds in such a way that best separates the uninvolved civilians from terrorism targets.
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Watch Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stress the need to root out Hamas completely.
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