President Joe Biden reportedly described a recent call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as among the most difficult and frustrating conversations he has had since the Gaza conflict began, according to an online publication summary. The report notes that the White House pressed Israel to restart funding transfers to the Palestinian Authority that were collected as taxes and fees on behalf of the Palestinian authorities prior to the Gaza escalation led by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The call reflected broader strains in the U.S.-Israel dynamic as both sides navigated humanitarian, security, and financial considerations amid the war.
The publication quotes American-Israeli journalist Barak Ravid, citing U.S. administration officials who describe that portion of the Saturday meeting as especially challenging. The account suggests growing tension between Biden and Netanyahu, highlighting how policy disagreements and daily decisions around Gaza have become a point of friction between the two leaders and their teams.
Under steady pressure from Washington, Israel agreed to resume transfers that form the bulk of the Palestinian Authority budget, but with a critical caveat: funds would not cover outstanding debts to Gaza. Palestinian officials declined to accept the money unless a secure mechanism was in place to ensure Hamas could not access or divert the funds. In response, a compromise proposal emerged to temporarily safekeep the money in Norway while governance mechanisms were developed to guarantee proper use and oversight.
Reports also recount that Netanyahu had previously turned down a request from senior security and defense officials to convene a strategic discussion about the future of Gaza after the current conflicts in the region. The leadership reportedly resisted international calls to pursue a demilitarized Gaza as a precondition for peace, signaling a preference for a more measured, unilateral approach to the security architecture in and around the territory.
Observers note that Netanyahu has consistently outlined goals for the campaign against Hamas that emphasize deterrence, stabilization, and the protection of Israeli civilians, while balancing political constraints at home and the broader regional security framework. The dialogue between Washington and Jerusalem continues to shape how much leverage the United States seeks to exert on humanitarian flows, security arrangements, and long-term governance in the Palestinian territories, all within the frame of a fragile, evolving regional balance. (Axios)
As diplomatic conversations unfold, officials on both sides appear to be looking for a workable path that preserves Israel’s security objectives and provides support to Palestinian civilians in ways that reduce risk to regional stability. The evolving approach to financial transfers, international involvement, and the management of aid signals a broader effort to align military and civilian priorities with wartime realities and post-conflict planning in the Gaza context. (Axios)