On Sunday, Rep. John Garamendi (D-Calif.) emphasized that the decision on how to respond to Iran’s attack lies with Israel rather than the United States. During an interview on NewsNation’s “The Hill Sunday,” Garamendi discussed President Biden’s approach to managing both Iran’s escalating conflict and Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
He praised Biden’s clear stance and stated, “He’s made it very clear, ‘I got to deal with the Gaza situation,’ which is an ongoing question of humanitarian issues there.” Garamendi emphasized that the responsibility for action now rests with Israel and expressed hope that they would handle the situation without further escalation.
Rep. Garamendi (Credits: CNN)
All eyes are on Israel following Saturday’s attack by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which launched dozens of missiles and drones. The attack, which targeted Israel, was largely anticipated after an earlier alleged Israeli airstrike in Syria resulted in the deaths of two senior IRGC officers.
Although most of the Iranian missiles and drones were intercepted by Israel’s air defense systems with allied assistance, the situation remains tense.
President Biden cut short his trip to Delaware to return to the White House for consultations with his national security team. He later condemned the attacks and spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, affirming unwavering support for Israel’s defense.
Democratic Rep. John Garamendi (Credits: The Intercept)
However, Israel’s response remains uncertain, and White House national security communications adviser John Kirby emphasized on Sunday that the decision on how to proceed rests solely with Israel. Axios reported that President Biden informed Netanyahu that the United States would not support an Israeli counterattack on Iran.
Biden faces the challenge of balancing support for Israel’s right to self-defense with addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Earlier this month, he sharply criticized Netanyahu after an Israeli airstrike killed a group of aid workers, signaling a shift in U.S. policy toward the Israel-Hamas conflict.
