Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to recent remarks by U.S. President Joe Biden, who said that "Netanyahu is harming Israel more than benefiting it." In an interview with Politico, Netanyahu stated: "I don't know what President Biden meant, but if he meant that I am leading a policy against the majority of public opinion in Israel and that this harms Israel’s interests, he is mistaken."
He added: "This policy is supported by the vast majority of Israelis; they support the military operation we launched to eliminate the remaining Hamas brigades, and they also support my position that we must oppose attempts to force us to accept a Palestinian terrorist state."
He continued: "Most Israelis understand that if we do not do this, we will return to the massacre of October 7." He explained: "Therefore, my policy reflects the policy of the majority of Israelis. The overwhelming majority is united as never before, and they understand what is good and important for Israel, and they are right."
He announced that there are at least 13,000 armed Palestinians who have been killed during the Israeli air and ground attacks on Gaza. In an interview with the German newspaper Bild, Netanyahu was quoted as saying that expanding the Israeli attack on Rafah in southern Gaza is essential to defeat Hamas. He said: "It seems that our enemies in the north have not looked closely at what happened in Gaza, and I advise them to take a good look. Our citizens are a priority, and they should return to the north even if it requires a broader war, and the government of Lebanon bears responsibility."
