Former US House speaker Nancy Pelosi has accused Israel’s prime minister of only being concerned with his own political survival. 

Speaking to former Barack Obama aide David Axelrod’s podcast, she said: “I’ve said this to Netanyahu over the years: ‘I don’t know whether you don’t know how to make peace, you don’t want to make peace, or you’re afraid of peace. But you could be doing so much more instead of just throwing red meat to [the] crowd’ – which is what he did.” 

She also references Mr Netanyahu’s family background, which is likely a nod to his father, Benzion Netanyahu, whose hawkish views and expertise on antisemitic genocide are said to have shaped the prime minister’s hardline approach.

Ms Pelosi added: “No, I think he’s interested in one thing, his own survival, and that’s it.”

Similar comments were made by our security and defence analyst Michael Clarke, who said Mr Netanyahu is continuing to proclaim Israel will launch an offensive on Rafah because he is being pressured to do so by cabinet members who have the ability to bring his government down.