President Biden said on Thursday that he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were headed for a “meeting with Jesus” over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, according to an audio clip of the president’s comments posted on social media on Friday.
Mr. Biden’s comments highlight the growing tension between him and Mr. Netanyahu in recent weeks, as the civilian death toll in Gaza has risen dramatically and Mr. Biden has come under political pressure at home and abroad to More must be done to compel Israel to agree. a truce
In recent days, Mr. Biden had expressed hope that at least a six-week ceasefire would be reached by Ramadan, the Muslim holy month that begins in a few days. But there has been an impasse in talks between Israel and Hamas over the release of vulnerable hostages taken during the Oct. 7 attack in Israel, in exchange for a permanent ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
On Friday, when asked by reporters if a deal could still be reached by Ramadan, Mr. Biden said, “It’s looking tough.”
The president’s earlier “Ayo-Jesus” comments were captured on a heated microphone during what Mr. Biden thought was a private exchange with Senator Michael Bennet, Democrat of Colorado, after the State of the Union address.
According to a recording of the conversation, Mr. Bennett encouraged the president to “continue to press” on the issue of humanitarian aid to Gaza as Israel fights its war against Hamas, a war that the United States has funded and armed.
“I said to him, ‘Baby’ — don’t repeat that — I said, ‘You and I are going to have a meeting—Jesus,'” Mr. Biden said, referring to the prime minister by his nickname.
Mr. Biden was told by an aide that his microphone was still on and that the conversation was being recorded. “I’m on a hot mic here?” Mr. Bedien said. “Good. That’s good.”
Mr. Biden had just used his prime-time address to Congress to urge Israel to reduce civilian casualties and allow large amounts of food, medicine and other aid into the besieged enclave. Gaza health authorities say that 30,000 people, most of them civilians, have been killed in the Israeli attack on Gaza. Millions of residents have been displaced, and hundreds of thousands more are facing hunger.
“Israel also has a primary responsibility, however, to protect innocent civilians in Gaza,” Mr. Biden said in his speech. “This war has taken more toll on innocent civilians than all previous wars in Gaza combined.”
Mr. Biden strongly supported Israel’s right to invade Gaza after Hamas militants crossed the border on Oct. 7 and killed more than 1,200 Israelis, according to Israeli authorities, in border towns while abusing and taking hostages.
The US continues to supply arms to Israel and blocks UN resolutions calling for a cease-fire, supporting Mr Netanyahu’s view that a permanent cease-fire would be a victory for Hamas, which the US considers a terrorist group. .
But the civilian toll from Israel’s bombing campaign, along with rising levels of hunger and disease in Gaza, has sparked international outrage, and calls have grown for the US to use its influence with Israel to broker a ceasefire. At home, Mr. Biden has faced a backlash on the issue from left-leaning Democrats and Arab Americans who were key to his winning coalition in 2020, particularly in the battleground state of Michigan.
Mr. Biden’s speech on Thursday was aimed in part at mending those fires. He also announced that the US military would build a floating pier off Gaza.
“To Israel’s leadership, I say this: humanitarian aid cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip,” Mr. Biden said in his address. “The protection and preservation of innocent lives must be prioritized.”
Mr Biden quietly acknowledged his comments to Senator Bennet when asked about it before boarding Air Force One on Friday. “I didn’t say that in the speech,” he said. But when asked about the comments after the speech, Mr. Biden told reporters, “You guys are hearing things.