Biden called Netanyahu a ‘liar’ over conduct in Gaza, new book reveals

US President Joe Biden’s frustration with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reached breaking point this spring over Netanyahu’s conduct in the war between Israel and Hamas, an explosive new book written by well-known US journalist Bob Woodward reveals.

The book, which is officially out next week, says that Biden unleased a profanity-laden tirade over Netanyahu after the Israeli military entered Rafah calling him a “liar”, and a “bad guy”, saying that the Israeli leader had “no strategy.”

Woodward reported that Biden said he felt Netanyahu had lied to him regularly, adding that Biden had threatened to withhold US weapons after Netanyahu became increasingly threatening over Hamas.

Biden has publicly voiced support for Israel, often in the face of international criticism as Israel continues its bombardment of the Gaza strip killing over 41,000 people according to local health authorities.

White House spokesperson Emilie Simons told reporters on Tuesday that, “the commitment we have to the state of Israel is ironclad.”

She added that Biden and Netanyahu have a “long-term relationship. They have a very honest and direct relationship, and I don’t have a comment on those specific anecdotes.”

Trump sends Putin COVID tests

Elsewhere in the book, which relies largely on anonymous sources, Woodward says that former US President Donald Trump sent Russian President Vladimir Putin COVID-19 tests for his personal use at the start of the pandemic in 2020.

Woodward writes that Putin told Trump not to reveal that he had sent him tests, with Trump eventually agreeing.

Several news agencies reported in 2020 that Trump’s administration had sent ventilators and other equipment to several countries, including Russia.

Trump’s campaign team has adamantly denied the claim, insisting that Woodward had no access to Trump, calling the allegations “made-up” according to local media citing a campaign spokesperson.

Trump previously sued Woodward for his 2021 book, titled Rage, which included taped interviews between the pair, with Trump telling Woodward he wanted to “play down” the COVID-19 virus.

In the upcoming novel, Woodward also claims that Trump has had multiple calls with Putin since leaving office.

Trump has previously come under scrutiny for his relationship with Putin. He once called the Russian leader “pretty smart” for his decision to invade Ukraine and has frequently publicly criticised US support for the war-torn country, arguing that Ukraine should have made concessions to Russia before it was invaded in 2022.