Netanyahu Defends Hamas Leader’s Assassination Amid Biden’s Concerns

Netanyahu’s Tension with Biden Over Hamas Leader’s Assassination

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel is firmly countering President Biden’s concerns regarding the recent assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and Israel’s stance on cease-fire negotiations. This marks a significant escalation in the ongoing tensions between the two allies since the onset of the Gaza conflict nearly ten months ago.

During a contentious phone conversation on Thursday, described by a U.S. official as heated, Mr. Netanyahu asserted that Israel is not a barrier to reaching a cease-fire agreement. He dismissed Mr. Biden’s claims that the killing of Haniyeh, who was targeted on Iranian territory, could derail the ongoing efforts to establish peace and secure the release of hostages.

A senior official from the Israeli government, speaking on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the diplomatic relations, revealed that Mr. Netanyahu maintained he was not obstructing a cease-fire. While acknowledging that Haniyeh’s death, being the principal negotiator in the cease-fire discussions, would temporarily stall progress, he contended that it would ultimately expedite the conclusion of a deal by applying increased pressure on Hamas.

In contrast, President Biden expressed that the timing of Haniyeh’s assassination was unfortunate, occurring at a crucial juncture when the U.S. anticipated a resolution to the conflict. This concern was echoed by a U.S. official, who also preferred to remain unnamed while discussing confidential diplomatic exchanges. Furthermore, Mr. Biden voiced apprehensions that executing such an operation within Tehran’s borders could potentially escalate tensions into a broader regional conflict, which he has been striving to prevent.

Both Israeli and American officials confirmed that Israel had not informed the U.S. about the plan to eliminate Haniyeh, even though Mr. Biden had recently hosted Mr. Netanyahu at the White House. According to the Israeli official, Netanyahu chose not to forewarn the Americans to avoid compromising their position. On the other hand, American officials have not raised objections regarding their exclusion from prior knowledge of the operation.

Mr. Biden touched on his concerns about the volatile situation in the Middle East during a brief conversation with reporters at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Thursday. This interaction occurred shortly after he welcomed home three Americans who had been released in a prisoner swap with Russia.