Is Netanyahu prolonging the Gaza war for political gain?

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Biden Suggests Netanyahu May Be Prolonging Gaza War for Political Reasons

US President Joe Biden indicated that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu might be delaying the end of the war in Gaza for political considerations. These remarks were made in an interview with Time magazine on May 28, prior to Biden outlining a ceasefire proposal for the region. Biden also expressed uncertainty regarding whether Israeli forces have committed war crimes, while refuting claims of starvation tactics, stating that Israel's actions have been "inappropriate."
Netanyahu's Political Stance Under Scrutiny

President Biden stated that "there is every reason for people to draw the conclusion" that Netanyahu is prolonging the conflict for political motives. This assertion comes amid significant domestic political challenges faced by the Israeli prime minister and follows Biden's efforts to advance a ceasefire. The comments were made a few days before Biden detailed a specific proposal aimed at ending the nearly eight-month conflict.
War Crimes Allegations and Inappropriate Actions

When questioned about potential war crimes by Israeli forces in Gaza, Biden described the situation as "uncertain." However, he directly dismissed allegations that Israel is employing starvation as a warfare strategy. Despite this, he acknowledged that Israel has "engaged in activity that is inappropriate." These statements come as the International Criminal Court's prosecutor has sought arrest warrants for Netanyahu, his defence chief, and three Hamas leaders over alleged war crimes.
Historical Parallels and Israeli Response

Biden drew a parallel between Israel's current actions and mistakes made by the United States after the September 11, 2001 attacks, which led to prolonged conflicts. He warned Israel, "And they’re making that mistake." In response to Biden's comments, Israeli government spokesperson David Mencer stated that such remarks were "outside the diplomatic norms of every right-thinking country."
Domestic Pressure on Netanyahu

The war in Gaza, which began after the October 7 Hamas attacks that killed approximately 1,200 people and saw over 250 hostages taken, has resulted in more than 36,000 deaths in Gaza, according to local health authorities. Opinion polls indicate that while most Israelis support the war, many hold Netanyahu responsible for security lapses on October 7 and would not vote for him in an election. Weekly mass street protests have become a fixture, with demonstrators demanding the return of hostages and Netanyahu's resignation.

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Is Netanyahu prolonging the Gaza war for political gain?

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