White House welcomes Israeli hostage rescue operation despite reported tensions between Biden and Netanyahu

The White House was “pleased to hear the news of two Israeli hostages freed last night by Israeli Defense Forces in Rafah after 128 days,” according to U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby.

However, the senior Biden administration official also lamented the loss of “innocent life” as a result of the Israeli hostage rescue operation.

“We certainly mourn any loss of innocent life as the result of those [IDF] operations,” said Kirby, reiterating Washinton’s concerns about civilian casualties in Gaza amid the ongoing war between Hamas terrorists and Israeli forces.

“The president has been consistent about our concerns over civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure and the need for Israeli defense forces to act with precision and deliberateness and due caution,” the U.S. official added.

Fernando Simon Marman (60) and Norberto Luis Har (70), who are dual Argentinian-Israeli citizens, were rescued by Israeli special forces in a complex and risky operation in Rafah, the only remaining major Hamas stronghold in the Gaza Strip.

“Fernando and Louis, welcome home,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated.

“I salute our brave fighters for the daring action that led to their release. Only continued military pressure, until total victory, will bring about the release of all of our hostages. We will not miss any opportunity to bring them home,” the Israeli leader pledged.

Washington’s praise of the Israeli hostage rescue operation reportedly comes amid heightened personal tensions between U.S. President Joe Biden and the Israeli prime minister regarding disagreements on how to secure the release of the remaining 132 hostages being held by Hamas terrorists and allies in Gaza.

A frustrated Biden reportedly referred to Netanyahu in a private conversation as a “bad f**king guy” due to disagreements on the handling of the hostage crisis and the ongoing Hamas war. The U.S. Biden administration has supported the Jewish state’s right to self-defense against the terror organization Hamas.

However, the progressive wing of the Democratic Party has increasingly pressured Biden to reduce its support for the Jewish state with a mere nine months remaining before the upcoming U.S. presidential election.

Washington Post columnist David Ignatius believes that the heightened personal tensions could potentially lead to clashes between Biden and Netanyahu.

“I do think we’re heading toward a showdown between Biden and Netanyahu over this desire the US has for de-escalation through hostage release negotiations,” Ignatius assessed.

Both Biden and Netanyahu want to secure the release of the remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza. However, while Biden embraces negotiations and de-escalation, Netanyahu believes that only continued military pressure on Hamas will lead to a victory.

The Israeli hostage rescue operation took place in the southern Gazan town of Rafah, where most of the remaining Hamas forces are believed to be concentrated. In addition, more than half of Gaza’s more than two million residents are believed to be in the area close to the Egyptian border.

The U.S. and other international governments have expressed concern about the potential for many civilian casualties if Israeli forces enter Rafah. However, Israel believes that entering Rafah is essential to defeat the remaining Hamas forces in Gaza.

During a recent phone conversation, Biden urged Netanyahu to prepare a credible plan to protect civilians before entering the Rafah area.

“The President reaffirmed our shared goal to see Hamas defeated and to ensure the long-term security of Israel and its people. The President and the Prime Minister discussed ongoing efforts to secure the release of all remaining hostages held by Hamas,” the White House stated after the top-level phone call.