Biden Considered 'Draconian Measures' Against Israel After Aid Worker Deaths
Translated & summarized from Israel Hayom by baba
Former U.S. advisor Brett McGurk revealed that the Biden administration considered significant punitive actions against Israel in April 2024 after the World Central Kitchen strike, but an imminent Iranian attack redirected U.S. attention. McGurk also detailed discussions about potential Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and the U.S. lack of foreknowledge regarding the October 7th Hamas attack.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Biden administration considered harsh measures against Israel after aid worker deaths.
- Imminent Iranian attack shifted U.S. focus away from punishing Israel.
- Netanyahu discussed striking Iran's Fordow nuclear facility with U.S. officials.
- U.S. had no intelligence warning of the October 7th Hamas attack.
- Former advisor suggests Israel needs a formal investigation into the attack.
The Biden administration considered "draconian measures" against Israel, including potentially halting arms supplies, in April 2024 following the killing of seven World Central Kitchen aid workers in an IDF strike in Gaza. However, incoming U.S. intelligence indicating an imminent Iranian attack shifted the administration's focus, according to Brett McGurk, who served as a senior advisor on Middle East affairs to then-President Joe Biden.
McGurk described Biden as "fed up" with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's conduct regarding the Gaza war. He stated that without the impending missile attack from Iran, which necessitated the deployment of military forces, the U.S. might have taken "pretty draconian measures" against Israel, with the possibility of cutting off U.S. weapons supplies "definitely on the table." McGurk recounted a tense conversation where Biden warned Netanyahu, "Do you think I'm Santa Claus? There's no Santa in Israel, buddy."
In December 2024, McGurk visited Israel with U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. During this visit, Netanyahu reportedly discussed the possibility of striking Iranian nuclear sites, including the Fordow facility. McGurk revealed that in late 2024, the U.S. administration feared Iran might be "galloping" towards nuclear weapons-grade uranium enrichment. U.S. officials were open to an attack if evidence emerged of Iran producing a bomb, but Netanyahu urged the U.S. not to wait for that stage. McGurk noted that Iran had increased its enriched uranium stockpile to 60% at the time, and a consensus within an Israeli ministerial committee was to "attack Fordow" if such a development occurred, though it did not materialize.
Regarding the October 7th attacks, McGurk stated that the U.S. had no intelligence that could have served as a warning. However, he believes Israel should establish a formal investigation committee, similar to the U.S. post-9/11 inquiry, to examine the conduct of its security and political echelons. McGurk suggested that Israel held a "deeply ingrained assumption" that Hamas was deterred and would not launch a large-scale attack, which he called a "tragic, wrong assumption."
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