Biden: Netanyahu's Approach Harms Israel More Than It Helps

U.S. President Joe Biden said on Saturday that he believes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's approach in the war with Hamas in Gaza "harms Israel more than it helps." In an interview with MSNBC, Biden expressed his support for Israel's right to pursue Hamas following the October 7 attack but remarked that "he should have paid more attention to the innocent casualties resulting from the actions taken." Biden also commented on the death toll in Gaza, stating, "This is contrary to Israel's principles, and I think this is a major mistake." The U.S. President emphasized that a potential Israeli attack on the city of Rafah in Gaza, where over 1.3 million Palestinians have taken refuge, is a "red line" for him, but he stated that he would not cut off supplies of weapons like Iron Dome missiles that protect Israeli civilians. Biden also expressed his willingness to present his arguments to the Knesset, Israel's parliament, and even hinted at the possibility of another trip. He, who had visited Israel a few weeks after the October 7 attack, preferred not to provide details about such a trip. The U.S. President hoped to secure a temporary ceasefire for about six weeks before the start of Ramadan, although this agreement seems unlikely due to Hamas's opposition and their withdrawal from negotiations. Negotiations mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and the U.S., which lasted four days, are set to resume on Sunday, March 10, in Cairo, according to Egyptian officials. The Hamas delegation left the ongoing talks in Cairo on Thursday, March 8. Following the October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the kidnapping of over 250 others, Israel launched an offensive against Gaza aimed at destroying this Iran-backed Islamist group. Hamas officials have repeatedly emphasized that if capable, they would carry out such an attack again. Hamas claims that over 30,000 Palestinians living in Gaza have been killed so far without specifying the number of its own members killed due to the Israeli offensive. The Persian section of Voice of America cannot independently verify or confirm the figures provided by Hamas. The United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Japan, Israel, and several other countries have designated Hamas as a terrorist organization. UNRWA states that Israel forced agency staff to admit to connections with Hamas. According to the Wall Street Journal, Qatar threatened to expel Hamas officials from the country if an agreement is not reached. The fifth round of U.S. airlift assistance to civilians in Gaza has delivered tens of thousands of meals and bottles of water, according to CENTCOM. The Associated Press reports that there are few signs of the beginning of Ramadan in the Old City of Jerusalem. An attack on a residential tower housing Hamas military assets occurred; residents reported that Israel had requested them to evacuate half an hour earlier. A U.S. Treasury official pressured Lebanon to stop the transfer of money from Iran to Hezbollah. A ship carrying aid to Gaza is ready to move along the Cyprus corridor. Germany stated that Israel should facilitate sending more aid to Gaza.