US-Israel tensions rise as Ramadan starts in Gaza
The Muslim holy month of Ramadan began Monday with no cease-fire in Gaza


What happened?
The Muslim holy month of Ramadan began Monday with no cease-fire in Gaza. President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sparred over the weekend about the high death toll and humanitarian crisis and Israel's plans to attack Rafah, a last refuge for about half of Gaza's 2.2 million residents.
Who said what?
Netanyahu has a "right to defend Israel" and "pursue Hamas," but an attack that leaves "30,000 more Palestinians dead" is a "red line," Biden told MSNBC. "In my view, he's hurting Israel more than helping Israel." Netanyahu told Politico that whatever Biden meant, he is "wrong" if he thinks Netanyahu is "pursuing private policies" that go against the "wish of the majority of Israelis." He said Israel still plans to attack Rafah.
The commentary
The U.S. "lost faith in Netanyahu and it's not surprising," Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid said. "Half of his Cabinet has lost faith in him as has the majority of Israel's citizens." Even a more moderate Israeli leader "wouldn't do things significantly differently" in Gaza, Eytan Gilboa, an expert on U.S.-Israel relations at Israel’s Bar-Ilan University, told The Associated Press. Nobody "of sound mind here" is "willing to leave Hamas in Gaza."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
What next?
Ramadan is typically a month of "dawn-to-dusk fasting," The New York Times said, but "that seems far away" in Gaza, where "people are so hungry that some have resorted to eating leaves and animal feed."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Cytomegalovirus can cause permanent birth defects
The Explainer The virus can show no symptoms in adults
-
Summer in Seattle: Outdoor dining like nowhere else
Feature Featuring a patio with a waterfront view, a beer garden, and more
-
Ari Aster revisits the pandemic, Adam Sandler tees off again and Lamb Chop gets an origin story in July movies
the week recommends The month's film releases include 'Eddington,' 'Happy Gilmore 2' and 'Shari & Lamb Chop'
-
AI scammer fakes Rubio messages to top officials
Speed Read The unknown individual mimicked Rubio in voice and text messages sent to multiple government officials
-
SCOTUS greenlights Trump's federal firings
speed read The Trump administration can conduct mass federal firings without Congress' permission, the Supreme Court ruled
-
New tariffs set on 14 trading partners
Speed Read A new slate of tariffs will begin August 1 on imports from Japan, South Korea, Thailand and more
-
Iran: Is regime change possible?
Feature The U.S.-Israeli attack exposed cracks in Iran's regime
-
Elon Musk launching 'America Party'
Speed Read The tech mogul promised to form a new political party if Trump's megabill passed Congress
-
Judge blocks Trump's asylum ban at US border
Speed Read The president violated federal law by shutting down the US-Mexico border to asylum seekers, said the ruling
-
Thai court suspends prime minister over leaked call
Speed Read Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been suspended, pending an ethics investigation
-
Senate passes GOP megabill after Alaska side deal
The pivotal yes vote came from Sen. Lisa Murkowski, whose support was secured following negotiated side deals for her home state Alaska