GAZA CITY, Palestine

The resistance and steadfastness of the Palestinian people made US President Joe Biden realize the "madness" of Israel’s military operation in the Gaza Strip, a senior Hamas leader said Tuesday.  

Osama Hamdan made the remarks at a press conference in Beirut when he was asked about a comment by Biden earlier in the day that Israel is losing support around the world.

The Israeli operation "will have catastrophic repercussions” on Israel and on Biden’s reelection prospects, he added.

He noted that there is a clear contradiction in Biden's statements, saying that yesterday, he affirmed his absolute support for Israel and today he states that Israel is starting to lose international support.

Biden said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is losing support around the world and Netanyahu "has to strengthen and change" the government to "find a long-term solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”

Israel has bombarded the Gaza Strip from the air and land, imposed a siege and mounted a ground offensive in retaliation for a cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7.

At least 18,412 Palestinians have been killed and 50,100 others injured in the Israeli onslaught since then, according to Gaza’s health authorities.

The Israeli death toll in the Hamas attack stood at 1,200, while around 139 hostages remain in captivity, according to official figures.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio