The White House said that US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held telephone discussions on Monday, which discussed developments in the war and humanitarian aid provided to Gaza.
This is the first call between Biden and Netanyahu in more than a month, after the last time on February 15, amid increasing disagreements over Israel’s management of the war.
The White House said in a statement on Monday that they “discussed the latest developments in Israel and Gaza, including the situation in Rafah and efforts to increase humanitarian assistance to Gaza.”
A statement by Netanyahu said that he spoke with Biden about achieving the goals of the Gaza war and providing the necessary humanitarian aid.
The Israeli Prime Minister said, in a recorded video: “I spoke with the President of the United States, Joe Biden, about the latest developments in the war, including Israel’s commitment to achieving all the goals of the war: eliminating Hamas, releasing all hostages, and ensuring that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel.” Now, with the provision of the necessary humanitarian aid that helps achieve these goals.”
Biden warned against the attack on the city of Rafah in southern Gaza, saying, “Israel should not carry out a military operation in Rafah without an honest plan to protect more than a million refugee citizens there.”
Biden’s comments came amid United Nations warnings of an imminent famine in Gaza.
Earlier this month, Biden directed the US military to provide food aid from the air to the Strip, and sent US forces to build a temporary dock on the Gaza coast that would allow the delivery of much-needed aid to the population.
Amid disagreements over the management of the war, Netanyahu rejected pressure from Washington, and recently confirmed that Israel would proceed with its plans to launch an attack on Rafah.
The war broke out following an unprecedented attack launched by Hamas in southern Israel, which led to the killing of about 1,200 people, the majority of whom were civilians, according to a tally prepared by Agence France-Presse based on official Israeli figures.
Also, about 250 people were kidnapped during the attack, according to Israel, which confirms that 130 of them are still hostage in Gaza, and 33 of them are believed to have been killed.
In response to the attack, Israel pledged to “eliminate” Hamas, and has since launched an intense campaign of bombing and raids, followed by a ground attack, which led to the deaths of 31,726 people, the vast majority of whom were women and children, according to the latest tally of the Ministry of Health in the Hamas government.
“Dangerous combat zone”… Will battles be renewed in northern Gaza?
Al-Shifa Hospital, located in the northern Gaza Strip, has returned to the forefront again, after witnessing violent clashes between the Israeli army and the Hamas movement, which is classified as a terrorist organization in the United States and other countries, while specialists reveal to Al-Hurra website the circumstances of “the ignition of that front again,” and their expectations of what might happen during The coming days.
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