Netanyahu says Biden ‘slow-walking’ US military aid
- Netanyahu defending siege of Rafah despite growing criticism
- The ICC is considering issuing a warrant for Netanyahu
- Israeli leaders concerned about relationship with US, too
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(NewsNation) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is defending Israel’s military action in Rafah despite facing surging international criticism, saying no other country has ever done as much during a conflict to minimize civilian casualties.
Morgan Ortagus, a former spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, joined NewsNation’s “The Hill” after recently interviewing Netanyahu, to discuss how the Israeli leader is defending the continuing siege on Rafah, despite threats by the International Criminal Court to sanction Israel’s leaders for that siege, and the relationship between Israel and the United States.
“The Biden administration had harsh words for the ICC after the surprise announcement that they were going to go after Netanyahu and Gallant, (Israel’s) defense minister, and potentially others. In addition, “the anger was palpable today in Israel,” Ortagus said.
The stunning announcement that the International Criminal Court is considering issuing an arrest warrant for Netanyahu for war crimes and crimes against humanity has ignited a fierce debate about the court’s future as an independent arbiter.
Meanwhile, there are concerns in Israel about its relationship with the United States, long the Jewish state’s primary supporter.
“The Netanyahu administration believes that the Biden administration is slow-walking … military aid” to Israel. “The Biden administration said, ‘No, we’re not,” Ortagus said. “Certainly, Netanyahu and his war cabinet feel like it is being slow-walked.”
Criticism of Israel’s conduct in the war in Gaza has been growing, particularly since it turned its focus to Rafah, a city where civilians have fled to avoid the conflict in other areas. This week alone, three European countries announced they would recognize a Palestinian state, and the chief prosecutor for another international court requested arrest warrants for Israeli leaders, along with Hamas officials.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is also under some pressure at home to end the war, which was triggered when Hamas-led militants stormed into Israel, killing 1,200 people, most civilians, and taking roughly 250 hostage. Thousands of Israelis have joined weekly demonstrations calling on the government to reach a deal to bring the hostages home, fearing time is running out.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
