Biden warns Israel is losing global support over ‘indiscriminate bombing’ in Gaza

Geoff Bennett:

The United Nations General Assembly has overwhelmingly approved a measure calling for a humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza.

The U.S. was one of 10 nations to vote against the nonbinding resolution. Before today's vote, President Joe Biden said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu needs to change his hard-line government, adding that Israel is losing global support due to what he called its indiscriminate bombing in Gaza.

President Biden's off-camera remarks to Democratic donors in Washington today are the latest sign of increasing U.S. concern about Israel's bombing campaign in Gaza, which has killed thousands of Palestinian civilians.

"Bibi's got a tough decision to make," the president said of Israel's prime minister. "This is the most conservative government in Israel's history," said Mr. Biden, adding that the Netanyahu-led coalition doesn't want a two-state solution, Washington's preferred outcome after the war with Hamas.

The president also said Israel is starting to lose support around the world, saying of Netanyahu: "I think he has to change, and with this government, this government in Israel is making it very difficult for him to move."

Earlier today, Netanyahu said Israel enjoys U.S. support for its goal of destroying Hamas, while he acknowledged differing views about a plan for after the war.

Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister (through interpreter):

Yes, there are disputes about the day after Hamas, and I hope we will reach an agreement here as well. I will not allow that, after the great sacrifice of our citizens and fighters, we bring into Gaza those who teach terrorism, support terrorism, finance terrorism.

Geoff Bennett:

It all comes as Israel's siege on Gaza today continued in all directions.

Tawfik Abu Breika, Gaza Strip Resident (through interpreter):

The world's conscience is dead, no humanity or any kind of morals.

Geoff Bennett:

From the north, Israeli soldiers pushed their ground invasion further into the Gaza Strip, as hospitals struggle to keep up with the injured and often orphaned children now in their care.

Razan Shabat, Palestinian Orphan (through interpreter):

I wish the war ends and we go back to our relatives and our home and that's it.

Geoff Bennett:

Ten-year-old Razan Shabat lost her parents, two siblings and other members of her extended family in an Israeli airstrike.

Dr. Younis Al-Ajla, Gaza (through interpreter):

A lot of children who come here, we don't know their names. And we write "Unknown" on their entry files until someone comes and recognizes them, including the patient, you mentioned her earlier, Razan Sameer Shabat. She was unknown for days and days in the cardiac ICU until a relative came and recognized her.

Geoff Bennett:

But the strikes keep coming, filling streets with smoke and debris and leaving Palestinians without homes and increasingly hope.