Quick Hit

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has defended his country's military response to the Hamas attack on Israel, stating that the U.S. would be "doing a hell of a lot more" if faced with a similar terror attack. This comes amidst international pressure on Israel to halt its offensive in Gaza and diverging views between the Biden administration and the Israeli government on the path forward.

Key Details

• Netanyahu's comments come in the wake of international pressure on Israel to halt its offensive in Gaza, following a Hamas attack on Israel in October.
• The Israeli Prime Minister has three stated goals: to free the remaining hostages, destroy Hamas, and ensure that Gaza does not pose a future threat to Israel.
• There is a divergence in views between the Biden administration and the Israeli government, with the former aiming for Palestinian governance of Gaza and a two-state solution, which the latter opposes.

Diving Deeper

Netanyahu's comments were made during an appearance on "Face the Nation" on Sunday. He questioned what America's response would be if faced with a similar situation, implying that it would be more severe than Israel's current actions. This comes more than four months after the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel, with the death toll in the region approaching 30,000 according to the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health.

Netanyahu's government has been under intense international scrutiny for its response to the attack. The Biden administration has been increasingly vocal in its criticism of Israel's actions, while also trying to balance its support for the U.S. ally. The White House is seeking a lengthy pause in the fighting and a hostage exchange.

Despite the international pressure, Netanyahu remains steadfast in his goals. He reiterated on Sunday his three objectives: to free the remaining hostages, destroy Hamas, and ensure that Gaza does not pose a future threat to Israel. "Unless we have total victory, we can't have peace," Netanyahu said.

However, the path forward is a point of contention between the Biden administration and the Israeli government. The White House is aiming for Palestinian governance of Gaza and a two-state solution in the long term, a stance that Israel's government opposes. Last week, Israel formally opposed recognizing Palestinian statehood unilaterally, suggesting that a decision would have to be made through negotiators.

Netanyahu's comments come at a time when Israel's finance minister has announced plans to build thousands of homes in settlements in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, following a fatal shooting attack by Palestinian gunmen. The Biden administration has criticized this plan, stating that it is inconsistent with international law.