In the spring of 2024, President Joseph R. Biden Jr. came close to severing ties with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid intense frustration over the ongoing conflict in Gaza, according to Brett McGurk, the president’s top Middle East adviser. McGurk’s account, detailed in his forthcoming memoir “Brink,” offers a rare glimpse into the internal tensions between the two leaders during one of the most challenging foreign policy crises of the Biden administration.
The relationship between Biden and Netanyahu was strained by the devastation wrought by the war in Gaza following the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023. Biden faced criticism from both sides domestically: some on the left urged him to more forcefully restrain Israel, while pro-Israel advocates accused him of limiting Israeli military actions. As the conflict escalated, Biden grew increasingly disillusioned with Israeli conduct, particularly concerning civilian casualties, blocked humanitarian aid, and stalled cease-fire negotiations.
On a particularly tense day in early April, Biden reportedly expressed his anger to Netanyahu, asking “Bibi, man, what the fuck are you doing?” and warning he was not “Santa Claus” for Israel, emphasizing that American military aid could be cut off immediately. This confrontation came shortly after an Israeli strike killed seven relief workers from World Central Kitchen, a humanitarian group founded by chef José Andrés. Biden’s frustration was echoed at home; First Lady Jill Biden left a note urging her husband to pressure Netanyahu to halt the violence.
Despite the president’s weariness, McGurk said that Biden’s concerns over the safety of hostages held by Hamas and the regional implications of the conflict tempered his willingness to push Israel to the brink of losing U.S. support. CIA Director William J. Burns had stressed that a hostage release was the only viable path toward a cease-fire, making continued American backing crucial.
The relationship took another critical turn when Iran prepared a large-scale missile and drone attack on Israel, testing U.S.-Israeli defenses. Though Biden was frustrated, he maintained support for Israel’s right to defend itself. His administration, together with Israeli and Arab partners, successfully intercepted most of the incoming missiles. Following the attack, Biden urged Netanyahu to avoid escalating the conflict, marking a rare moment of diplomatic coordination amid the chaos.
Brett McGurk, who has served as a foreign policy adviser to several presidents and returned to the White House under Biden, depicted the crisis as the “worst” he has ever seen and stressed the complexity of balancing military, diplomatic, and humanitarian priorities. Although Biden suspended the supply of certain heavy bombs to Israel at one point, McGurk noted that this move may have hardened Hamas’s stance by giving the group false hope of winning the conflict.
Negotiations to secure a cease-fire and release hostages proved difficult and protracted, with each side frequently altering conditions. Ultimately, the agreement was reached only after the transition of power, with significant contributions from former President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, working alongside Biden’s team. McGurk highlighted the unusual collaboration between current and incoming administrations as pivotal to finalizing the deal.
Throughout the crisis, McGurk praised Biden’s leadership, describing him as engaged and in command despite the immense pressures. He dismissed suggestions that Biden’s age or stamina were concerns, emphasizing the president’s full involvement in managing the multifaceted and evolving situation. The memoir and McGurk’s recounting underscore the extraordinary challenges posed by the Gaza war to one of the most enduring U.S.-Israel alliances, as well as the delicate balancing act of American foreign policy in the Middle East.