United States: Mr. Joe Biden, US president, has warned that Israel is losing international support over its “indiscriminate bombing” of Gaza.
Mr. Biden’s comments made at a campaign fundraiser in Washington, marked a shift in the tone after unwavering support to Israel since Hamas launched attacks in early October.
“Israel’s security can rest on the US, but right now it has more than the US. It has the European Union, it has Europe, it has most of the world supporting them. They are starting to lose that support by indiscriminate bombing that takes place,” Mr. Biden stated.
According to Palestinian health officials, more than 18,000 people have been killed and nearly 50,000 others wounded in the Israeli assault on Gaza since October 7.
Israel launched its onslaught in response to a raid by Hamas fighters from Gaza who killed about 1,200 people and took 240 others captive in southern Israel, as per the Israeli authorities.
Mr. Biden further added that there was “no question about the need to take on Hamas” and Israel had “every right” to do so.
There has been increasing pressure on the US president to rein in Israel’s military campaign, even from members of his own Democratic Party. Senior US officials have also shown increasing discontent at Israel’s military response.
In a statement, Israeli Prime Minister, Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu, remarked that Israel had received the “full backing” of the US for its ground offensive on Gaza and that Washington had blocked “international pressure to stop the war.”
“Yes, there is disagreement about ‘the day after Hamas’ and I hope that we will reach an agreement here as well,” Mr. Netanyahu added.
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