Key Biden aide recalls "draconian measures" being considered against Israel
In a CBS News interview, Biden-era Middle East adviser Brett McGurk recounted the administration's response to the Oct. 7 attack, its handling of the Israel-Hamas war, the role of Iran and the long-sought push to normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
President Joe Biden faced the possibility of implementing severe actions against Israel following a devastating Israeli military drone attack in April 2024 that claimed the lives of seven World Central Kitchen aid workers in the Gaza Strip. However, a warning received from U.S. intelligence about an imminent Iranian attack on Israel prevented Biden from proceeding with such measures, according to Brett McGurk, a senior Middle East adviser to four U.S. presidents.
In an interview with CBS News, McGurk recalled Biden expressing frustration with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's management of the Gaza conflict. McGurk noted that U.S. intelligence had intelligence about Iran's intent to launch an "unprecedented" aerial assault on Israel, which involved 120 ballistic missiles, 170 drones, and 30 cruise missiles.
This threat compelled the Biden administration to deploy military forces to counter the anticipated Iranian attack. Despite the threats, the White House never announced a complete suspension of weapons supplies to Israel, although a reduction in certain weapons transfers took place. McGurk reasoned that withdrawing all U.S. support from Israel would not resolve the crisis; instead, it could exacerbate the situation.
He further emphasized that compelling Israel to cease American aid might harden Hamas' stance, thereby impeding negotiations to end the war and free hostages.
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