US President Joe Biden said at a campaign event that Israel had “most of the world supporting it” shortly after October 7, but “they are starting to lose that support” with the indiscriminate bombing.
Biden later softened his comments and met with the families of the American hostages on Wednesday.
US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby on Wednesday reiterated Washington’s concerns about civilian casualties.
Kirby said, “And we have expressed concerns about the prosecution of this military operation, even acknowledging that it is Hamas that initiated it.”
Biden himself had raised those concerns “publicly and privately” with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he said.
Despite American criticism, Israel vowed to press ahead with its war.
Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said, “Israel will continue the war against Hamas with or without international support.”
The ceasefire would be “a gift” to Hamas and “will allow it to return and threaten the residents of Israel”.
Netanyahu also said Israel would stand firm.
“I say this out of extreme pain, but also in light of international pressure. No one will stop us. We are going to the end, to victory, nothing less,” he said.
Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, will travel to Israel on Thursday to meet with Netanyahu, who has said there are “disagreements” with Washington over how Gaza will be governed after the conflict.
Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh said on Wednesday that any plan for a post-war Gaza that does not include Palestinian militant groups or resistance factions is an illusion.