The population is behind him
Netanyahu counters Biden’s allegations
March 10, 2024, 7:29 p.m
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The US President is calling on Israel to show more consideration for innocent civilians in the Gaza Strip – Netanyahu’s actions are damaging his country. He contradicts: The Israeli population supports his policies.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected US President Joe Biden’s criticism of the Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip. “If the US President means that I am pursuing a private policy against the wishes of the majority of Israelis and that this harms Israel’s interests, then he is wrong on both counts,” said Netanyahu in an interview with the “Bild” newspaper, Welt TV and “Politico” in Jerusalem.
His policies are supported by an “overwhelming majority” of Israelis, Netanyahu added. “They support the measures we are taking to destroy the remaining Hamas battalions.” Israel must prevent a repeat of the October 7 massacre.
Netanyahu appeared determined to begin the military offensive against the radical Islamic group Hamas in the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip soon, despite international warnings. “We are very close to victory,” said the Israeli head of government. After the start of the offensive against the last Hamas battalions in Rafah, the “intense phase” of the fighting will last four to six weeks. “We have destroyed three quarters of the Hamas battalions,” emphasized Netanyahu. Giving up now would be absurd.
Biden: Hurts Israel more than it helps
Given the desperate situation of the people in the Gaza Strip, Biden had previously openly criticized Israel’s actions. “In my opinion, he harms Israel more than he helps the country,” Biden said, referring to the Israeli head of government, in an interview with the US television station MSNBC that aired on Saturday evening.
Netanyahu has “a right to defend Israel, a right to continue to persecute Hamas.” But he must “pay more attention to the innocent people who die as a result of the measures taken.” In the interview with “Bild” newspaper, Welt TV and “Politico”, Netanyahu emphasized that Israel would do “everything we can” to prevent civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip.
He was skeptical about the negotiations for a new ceasefire and the release of Hamas hostages. During the negotiating rounds, “they come away with nothing,” Netanyahu said of Hamas. The radical Islamic Palestinian organization apparently has no interest in an agreement at the moment. Instead, she wants to “regroup, retake the Gaza Strip and start all over again.”
31,000 Palestinians are said to have been killed
Israel has been taking massive military action in the Gaza Strip since Hamas’ unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7th. According to the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health, which cannot be independently verified, more than 31,000 people have been killed in the coastal strip so far.
According to Israeli information, fighters from the Palestinian group, which is classified as a terrorist organization by the USA and the EU, killed around 1,160 people and kidnapped around 250 as hostages in the Hamas attack. According to this, 130 hostages are still held by Hamas, 31 of them are said to be already dead.