“cracked” the until recently fractious American-Israeli front on Gaza, with Joe Biden openly “blaming” Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli prime minister to blatantly ignore him by announcing a military operation in Rafah, despite international backlash.

A few days ago, the US president directly stated that Netanyahu is doing “more harm than good to Israel” with the war in Gaza. For their part, Netanyahu’s far-right government partners openly support a “total restoration” of Donald Trump to the presidency, with the Israeli prime minister not disapproving.

“Netanyahu no longer meets the country’s needs”

US President Joe Biden claimed today many Americans share Chuck Schumer’s concernsof head of the Democratic majority in the Senatewho in a recent speech he called for new elections in Israel and sharply criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, considering him to be an obstacle to peace in the Middle East.

“It was a good speech,” Biden said when asked by reporters in the Oval Office about Schumer’s remarks. “He expressed a serious concern, which many Americans share,” he added. He also noted that Schumer had briefed him and his staff before delivering his speech.

Sumer, who has always supported Israel and is the highest elected US official of Jewish descent, told the Senate that his government Netanyahu no longer meets the needs of the country, five months after the war that began with Hamas’s attack on Israeli soil on October 7.

His speech reflects Washington’s growing irritation with Netanyahu, tthe way it is waging war, its failure to protect Palestinian civilians and its perceived obstruction of humanitarian aid to Gaza. International criticism of the US for the support it provides to Israel is intensifying due to the high number of casualties and the food crisis in the enclave.

In the same speech, Schumer also criticized the Palestinians who support Hamas and said that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas should also “step aside”. He argued that it would be a “grave mistake” if Israel refused the two-state solution and urged negotiators to do everything possible to achieve a ceasefire, free the hostages and get humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Biden’s comments today confirm the gap between Washington and the Israeli government.

The military operation in Rafah was approved

THE Netanyahu earlier on Friday it approved the military operation in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. The decision of the Israeli prime minister was announced by his office after a meeting of the war cabinet.

“The IDF is prepared for the business and for its evacuation [αμάχου] population” is mentioned.

The decision comes despite widespread warnings from the international communityincluding the US and Egypt, not to enter Rafah, where they have taken refuge approximately 1.5 million displaced Palestinians.

The statement also states that Israel will continue talks on a ceasefire agreement in Qatar “when the security cabinet discusses Israel’s position.”

The Israeli Prime Minister he also rejected Hamas’s latest proposal for the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and a ceasefire, saying its demands “they are still absurd.” But he added that he would send Israeli representatives to Qatar to continue truce efforts.

Anxiety in Europe about the refugee

On Sunday, the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, along with the prime ministers of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Italy, Giorgia Meloni, and Belgium, Alexander De Croix (Belgium holds the EU presidency), will travel to Cairo, with reports from the Financial Times and of Bloomberg to talk about an immigration deal, which will be accompanied by a huge aid package over 7.4 billion euros to Egypt.

There is concern in the EU about the increase in refugee flows through Egypt. An attack on Rafah is expected to trigger a wave of Palestinian refugees.

It is noted only in Crete, in the last quarter, arrivals reach 1,500, while the flows towards Gavdos are also increased.

However, the Commission is keeping a “quiet fish” regarding a possible conclusion of an agreement with Egypt on immigration, stating that the purpose of the visit is to strengthen the partnership and energy.