Unaware if Netanyahu is 'influencing' US election by refusing to Gaza ceasefire: Biden

President Biden addressed concerns about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s intentions during his first briefing room appearance as president, saying that he is unaware if Netanyahu is attempting to influence the upcoming US election while emphasising that his administration has been Israel’s strongest ally to date.

Biden’s comments came in response to Democratic concerns that Netanyahu is disregarding the president’s calls for a Gaza peace deal. Instead, Netanyahu is focusing on confronting Hezbollah and Iran, potentially to interfere with the White House race.

Biden said that no administration has helped Israel more than I have, none, none, none. And, I think Bibi should remember that, he said, adding that whether Netanyahu was trying to influence the election. I don’t know but I’m not counting on that.

Biden also said the United States was working to rally the international community to avoid all-out war in the Middle East.

“The main thing we can do is try to rally the rest of the world and our allies into participating… to tamp this down,” he told reporters.

President Biden has expressed both public and private frustration over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s management of the Gaza conflict, which has resulted in the deaths of thousands of Palestinian civilians over the past year.

Biden had said in an interview published earlier this year in April, offering further criticism of Israel’s handling of the conflict, saying that Netanyahu’s approach to the war in Gaza is a “mistake,”.

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Biden has also previously called Israel’s bombing in Gaza “indiscriminate” and its military actions “over the top”. Israel’s military assault on Gaza has been the subject of mounting international criticism.

Domestically, Biden has also faced months of protests from anti-war activists, Muslims and Arab Americans across the country, who have demanded a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and restrictions on U.S. military assistance for Israel.

With inputs from agencies.