U.S. Response Under Scrutiny Amid Concerns Over Gaza Death Toll
Biden meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv on Wednesday. (Miriam Alster/Pool via AP)
Yahoo News reports:
President Biden is facing mounting criticism for the way his administration is handling the Israel-Gaza conflict. As violence in the region escalates, the Biden administration is trying to strike a balance between its support for Israel and growing concerns about the safety of civilians in the Gaza Strip.
Biden recently visited Israel and had planned to meet with Arab leaders in Jordan. However, the meeting was postponed following an explosion at Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza, which resulted in the deaths of numerous Palestinian patients and refugees. While Gaza authorities blame an Israeli airstrike for the explosion, Israeli authorities claim it was caused by a failed rocket launch by Hamas. In the meantime, Arab American groups and some members of the Biden administration have expressed frustration with the White House’s approach to the conflict.
Shortly after the Hamas attacks on October 7, which claimed the lives of over 1,400 people, including 31 U.S. citizens, Biden expressed support for Israel’s right to self-defense. The president stated, “The United States stands with the people of Israel in the face of these terrorist assaults. Israel has the right to defend itself and its people. Full stop.” Biden reiterated these statements in the following days and, during a visit with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv, he reassured Israel, saying, “We will continue to have Israel’s back as you work to defend your people.”
Biden’s initial response to the attacks received praise from both Democrats and Republicans. According to a recent Yahoo News/YouGov poll, 52% of Democrats believe Biden’s response has been appropriate, while only 15% think it has been overly supportive of Israel. (41% of Republicans believe the president’s response has not been supportive enough of Israel.) Overall, 67% of Americans now consider “helping to protect Israel” to be an important goal for U.S. policy in the Middle East, a 12-point increase from May 2021.
However, the White House has come under increased scrutiny for its management of the crisis, receiving criticism from various groups, including progressive lawmakers and Arab American leaders. The death toll in Gaza has risen to over 3,300 since Israel launched its retaliatory strikes more than a week ago.
