Netanyahu snaps back against growing US criticism after being accused of losing his way on Gaza

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu railed Sunday against growing criticism from the United States against his leadership amid the devastating war with Hamas, saying the pressure won’t stop Israel from achieving “total victory.”

In recent days, top officials from the U.S., Israel’s staunchest ally which has provided key military and diplomatic support, have publicly voiced their frustration with Netanyahu and his government. U.S. President Joe Biden accused Netanyahu of hurting Israel because of the huge civilian death toll in Gaza.

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish official in the country and a strong Israel supporter, called on Israel to hold a new election, saying Netanyahu had “lost his way.” Biden expressed support for what he called Schumer’s “good speech.”

The U.S. also has expressed concerns about a planned Israeli assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where about 1.4 million displaced Palestinians are sheltering, and support for a new round of talks aimed at securing a cease-fire in exchange for the return of Israeli hostages taken in Hamas' Oct. 7 attack.

The Israeli delegation to those talks wasn't expected to leave for Qatar until after Sunday evening meetings of the Security Cabinet and War Cabinet, which will give directions for the negotiations.

Despite the talks, Netanyahu made it clear he had no plan to back down from the fighting that has killed more than 31,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials. More than five months have passed since Hamas’ attack on southern Israel killed 1,200 people and left another 250 hostage in Gaza.

Netanyahu said that calls for an election now — which polls show he would lose badly — would force Israel to stop fighting and would...