Military offensive in Gaza: Joe Biden in favor of a “pause”, the Israelis too?

Well received words? Joe Biden, questioned on Wednesday during a political meeting on the conflict between Israel and Hamas, said he was in favor of a “pause” in order to allow the “prisoners” to leave the enclave. The American president, running for a second term, was speaking at a fundraising event when a member of the audience called out to him: “As your rabbi, I ask you to call for a cease -fire immediately.” “I think we need a break. A break means giving time to get the prisoners out,” said the 80-year-old Democrat. How was this call for a ceasefire received in Israel?

49% of Israelis want a break

We can really speak of two camps in the Hebrew State. A poll taken just a week ago showed that 49% of Israelis wanted a postponement, a pause, in this military offensive. On the one hand because above all they hope for the release of the hostages. And everyone knows that this military offensive puts their lives in danger.

But there is also the war camp, headed by Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister who, just two days ago, made these remarks. “Just as the United States did not call for a ceasefire after the Pearl Harbor attacks or after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Israel would never accept an end to hostilities against Hamas after the horrific attacks of October 7. Calls for a ceasefire are calls for surrender to Hamas, to terrorism,” he declared.

So, on the ground, this offensive is particularly deadly. The Israeli army has entered Gaza City and the bombardments are intense. The only parenthesis in this war is the evacuation on Wednesday of 320 foreigners and dual nationals who crossed into Egypt, including five French nationals. And this Thursday morning, Hamas published a list of 600 foreigners, including 400 Americans, who could also leave Gaza in the coming hours thanks to an agreement between Israel, the United States, Egypt and Qatar .