Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded on Sunday to criticism from his cabinet minister, who called Washington’s help insufficient, by congratulating “American friends” but at the same time reminding that Israel “makes its own decisions”, writes AFP.

• “We do not need help in improving our relations with the US and the international community.
• We make decisions ourselves, including if there is no agreement with our American friends,” said the Prime Minister of Israel at a meeting of his military cabinet in Tel Aviv.

He said that Israel “very much appreciates” American assistance, “support in terms of armaments, in international institutions, sending troops to the region.”

“If Trump were in power, the behavior of the United States would be completely different”

Netanyahu made these statements in the context of the fact that Israel’s Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir condemned US President Joe Biden’s policy in the region in an interview with the Wall Street Journal on Sunday.

• “Instead of giving us all his support, Biden is responsible for the humanitarian aid and fuel (in Gaza) going to Hamas.
• If (Donald) Trump were in power, the behavior of the US would be completely different,” said Ben Guir, Agerpres writes with reference to AFP.

The United States, Israel’s main ally, has been criticized in the Arab world, but also domestically, for its steadfast military and diplomatic support of Israel. However, in Washington they say they want to reduce the consequences of the war for the civilian population in the Gaza Strip.

Last week, Washington announced sanctions against four Israeli settlers accused of violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. The Minister of National Security of Israel himself lives in such an Israeli colony.

The dispute comes as US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, who is expected in the region in the coming days, will press for the release of hostages held by Hamas and its allies in exchange for a pause in the Israeli offensive. in Gaza, the State Department reports.

According to Israeli authorities, 132 hostages continue to be held by Hamas, of which 27 are believed to be dead.

Blinken will travel to Qatar and Egypt, mediators of the crisis, as well as to Israel, the West Bank and Saudi Arabia.

“Israel will not agree to any agreement at any price”

Also on Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at the beginning of the government meeting in Tel Aviv that Israel “will not agree to any agreement with Hamas at any price.”

• “I want to make our policy very clear: the main goal is, first of all, the elimination of Hamas,” Netanyahu said, according to The Times of Israel.

He claimed that Israel would not end the war in Gaza until it had achieved “all of its objectives of eliminating Hamas, returning all hostages, and ensuring that Gaza is never again a threat to Israel.”