Biden "Working With Israeli Govt" To "Significantly Get Out Of Gaza"

US President Joe Biden, speaking at a political event in South Carolina, has announced in ad hoc remarks that he's, "been quietly working with the Israeli government to get them to reduce and significantly get out of Gaza."

• Biden made the comments as his speech was interrupted by protestors calling for a ceasefire. In response Biden noted: "I understand their passion..."
• The comments come amid an apparently deepening rift between the White House and the Israeli government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the future direction of the war.
• Jake Tapper at CNN reported earlier today on X: "A Biden administration official said to me “at some point, Netanyahu is going to have to choose between governing in a way that pleases [hardline ministers] Ben Gvir and [Bezale] Smotrich, and governing in a way that pleases President Biden and the US.”
• US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to arrive in Israel this evening after a tour of the region which has included meetings with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, UAE President Mohammad bin Zayed, Qatari PM Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, and Jordanian King Abdullah II.
• Blinken said in Qatar yesterday: "Palestinian civilians must be able to return home as soon as conditions allow. They cannot, they must not be pressed to leave Gaza." Comments seemingly directly at Gvir and Smotrich.