Axios: Netanyahu was surprised by Biden's request to stop fighting outside the framework of the exchange deal

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The Axios news website quoted a senior Israeli official as saying that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his aides were surprised by US President Joe Biden’s request to stop fighting in Gaza outside the context of the prisoner exchange deal, in their last call, which was described as the most difficult since the beginning of the war.

Sources told the website that Netanyahu said that new measures would be taken on the humanitarian side in the Gaza Strip, and therefore “there is no need to stop the fighting.”

On the other hand, Biden warned Netanyahu that the US administration would not be able to support him unless Israel changed its course in Gaza, according to what informed sources confirmed to Axios.

But Biden did not specify the manifestations of the loss of American support and did not mention the possibility of halting arms shipments to Israel.

The same sources stated that the phone conversation that took place yesterday, Thursday, between Biden and Netanyahu was the most difficult “in terms of tone and content” since the seventh of last October.

However, Axios quoted an American official as saying, “We still support a ceasefire as part of the hostage deal, and this must happen immediately.”

Earlier, the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation said - citing political sources - that the phone call held by the two parties was “more difficult than expected,” while the White House said that the tough tone adopted by Biden during the call reflects “growing frustration” over the lack of response. Tel Aviv to demands to protect civilians.

Following the call, Israeli media said that the mini-ministerial council decided to increase humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip immediately, and also agreed to open the Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing for the first time since the beginning of the Israeli aggression on the Strip.

Senate pressure

On the other hand, the Democratic member of the US Senate, Senator Tim Kaine, said that despite American and other pressures, the aid that Israel allows to the Gaza Strip is insufficient.

Kane urged the Biden administration to prioritize the delivery of defensive weapons to Israel and withhold offensive weapons, noting that delivering the latter type would only “exacerbate the suffering in Israel, Gaza, and the region.”

The Democratic Senator added, "Biden's position that pushed Israel to open a border crossing was a clear solution that should have been taken months ago."

For his part, Independent Senator Bernie Sanders issued a warning to the Israeli Prime Minister, saying, "If thousands of trucks do not arrive to feed the hungry in Gaza, all military aid will stop."

The United States is the largest supporter of Israel in its war on the Gaza Strip, which has been ongoing for about 6 months, as it established an air and sea bridge to supply it with thousands of tons of weapons and ammunition.

Source: Axios + Al Jazeera