Netanyahu bristles at US criticism of Gaza offensive but refrains from attacking Biden in talks with Republicans

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed Republican Senators via video call on Wednesday afternoon to discuss his concerns with mounting tensions about his planned invasion into Rafah and public support for Israel’s war in Gaza.

Senator Josh Hawley, who was in the room for the call, told reporters Mr Netanyahu closely monitors public US support for Israel amid the war. Mr Hawley also told The Independent that Israel’s planned invasion into Rafah was discussed in a Q&A with senators.

“He said, frankly, that an operation Rafah is necessary, and they were committed to seeing it through,” the Missouri senator told The Independent.

The city of Rafah, located in southern Gaza, is where some 1.4 million Palestinians are taking shelter after they were displaced by Israeli attacks in the North. White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said the Biden administration would not support the offensive “without a credible plan” from the IDF.

The war between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza has raged for months since a bloody terrorist attack on Israeli soil last October ended with more than 1,200 dead and more than 200 kidnapped.

Since the 7 October attack on Israel by Hamas — in which militants killed roughly 1,200 Israelis and took more than 200 people hostage — the IDF has launched a continued siege on Gaza. Their attacks have killed more than 30,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

Now, the United Nations, the European Union and several international aid agencies are all warning of an imminent, widespread famine in Gaza.

Notably, Mr Netanyahu did not openly criticise President Joe Biden during the call, Mr Hawley told reporters. This comes after Mr Biden said he would consider