Joe Biden’s remarks don’t so much represent a shift in tone but a strengthening of his criticism of the Israeli approach.
It’s clear also from the undertone that there is now no love lost between the American president and the prime minster of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu.
The comments, it should be noted, were recorded last week – two days after seven aid workers were killed in a botched Israeli attack.
Mr Biden has become increasingly frustrated by the mounting civilian casualties and the desperate humanitarian situation in Gaza.
But the comments go beyond that and speak to the lack of Israeli strategy for the day after the war.
From Washington, Israel appears to be making many of the same mistakes the US made after 9/11.
Driven by anger and revenge they’ve smashed up Gaza but have no plans for the peace.
Hamas may have been badly hit but they’ve not been defeated.
An insurgency out of the ashes seems probable without a concrete plan.
Israel, at the moment, seems unable or unwilling to countenance what such a bargain would look like.
Almost 33,500 Palestinians killed, says Hamas-run ministry
The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry has said 33,482 Palestinians have been killed by Israel’s military offensive since 7 October.
A further 76,049 people have been wounded, the ministry said.
The updated figures come after 122 people were killed and 56 injured in the last 24 hours, it said.
The ministry’s figures do not differentiate between civilians and fighters, but it says the majority of those killed were women and children.
‘Clear differences’ between Biden and Netanyahu on Rafah
Clear differences remain between Joe Biden and Benjamin Netanyahu on Israel’s plans to launch an offensive in Rafah, an official in the prime minister’s office has said.
They told NBC News that the leaders, who spoke over the phone, were aligned on the need to “repel the Iranian threat”.
The comments came after Mr Biden said Benjamin Netanyahu’s approach to the war was a “mistake”.
“The president’s statement was apparently made days ago, before the call with the prime minister,” the official said.
“In the course of the call it was clear that differences on Rafah have not been resolved but the leaders are aligned on the need to bolster humanitarian aid and repel the Iranian threat.”
