US President Joe Bide. File | Photo credit: AFP
President Joe Biden on Saturday pressed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to protect the lives of civilians in Gazathe White House said, as the country’s forces launched new military strikes on the territory.
The conversation came a day after the UN Security Council adopted a resolution demanding “the safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance on a large scale,” but stopped short of calling for a cease-fire. fire between Israel and Hamas militants.
“The President emphasized the critical need to protect the civilian population, including those supporting the humanitarian assistance operation, and the importance of allowing civilians to safely move away from ongoing combat zones,” the White House said in a statement.
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Mr. Biden told reporters at the White House earlier in the day that he had a “long conversation” with Mr. Netanyahu, which he described as a “private conversation.”
In response to a follow-up question, Mr. Biden said: “I have not called for a cease-fire.”
The White House statement said the two leaders discussed the “objectives and course” of the Israeli military campaign as well as the importance of securing the release of all remaining hostages.
On October 7, Hamas militants crossed the border into Gaza and attacked communities in southern Israel, killing around 1,140 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.
Israeli authorities say 129 of the hostages captured in the brazen attack remain in Gaza.
Israel responded with a violent attack on Gaza that killed at least 20,057 people, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-controlled territory’s health ministry.
A truce last month saw the release of 105 hostages, including 80 Israelis freed in exchange for 240 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.
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Friday’s much-delayed U.N. resolution came after days of diplomatic wrangling and only circumvented a U.S. veto by avoiding a call for a ceasefire. The United States and Russia abstained on this measure.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said a “humanitarian ceasefire” is the only way for aid “to be effectively delivered”.
This increases pressure on Israel to allow greater humanitarian access and gives the United Nations a greater role in coordinating the delivery of aid to Gaza.
The UN estimates that the fighting has displaced 1.9 million of Gaza’s 2.4 million residents.
Israel’s foreign minister said his country would “continue to screen all humanitarian aid to Gaza for security reasons.”
