President Joe Biden spoke Friday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the leaders’ first call in almost a month amid sharp disagreements over what should happen in Gaza after the ongoing war concludes.
Quick Read
- Biden-Netanyahu Phone Call: U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the ongoing developments in Israel and Gaza. The White House plans to issue a more detailed statement about the call.
- Israeli Advance in Gaza: The Israeli military has launched a major offensive in Khan Yunis, the main city in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, which is now reportedly the primary base of Hamas fighters.
- Casualties and Conflict in Gaza: Recent advances by Israel in Gaza have resulted in significant casualties, with the Gaza health ministry reporting 142 Palestinians killed and 278 injured in the past 24 hours. The total death toll from the war has risen to 24,762.
- Palestinian-American Teen Killed: A Palestinian-American teenager was killed by Israeli security forces in the West Bank, adding to the toll of the conflict.
- U.S. Position on Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: The U.S. has been pressing Israel to protect Palestinian civilians and scale back military actions against Hamas in Gaza. The U.S. maintains that a Palestinian state is necessary for sustainable peace.
- Netanyahu’s Stance on Palestinian State: Netanyahu has reiterated his opposition to the creation of a Palestinian state, conflicting with the U.S. position on the matter.
- Intensity of the Conflict: The conflict escalated following Hamas’ assault on Israeli towns on October 7, which killed over 1,200 people, leading to a severe response from Israel in Gaza.
The Associated Press has the story:
Biden and Netanyahu discuss war in 1st phone call in almost a month
Newslooks- WASHINGTON — (AP)
U.S. President Joe Biden discussed developments in Israel and Gaza with Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu in a phone call on Friday, the White House said, as the Israeli military continued a major advance in the southern Gaza Strip.
The White House said they discussed “the latest developments in Israel and Gaza.” It comes a day after Netanyahu reiterated his opposition to a Palestinian state, which the U.S. has insisted is necessary to bring about a sustainable peace.
No further details were immediately disclosed, but the White House said it would issue a fuller statement later Friday.
Biden’s call with Netanyahu came as Red Crescent officials reported “intense gunfire from the Israeli drones targeting citizens at Al-Amal Hospital” in Khan Yunis, the main city in the southern part of Gaza.
Israel launched a major new advance in Khan Younis this week to capture the city, which it says is now the primary base of the Hamas fighters who attacked Israeli towns on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 and precipitating a war that has devastated the Gaza Strip.
The Gaza health ministry said 142 Palestinians had been killed and 278 injured in Gaza the past 24 hours, raising the death toll from more than three months of war to 24,762.
A Palestinian-American teenager was killed by Israeli security forces in the West Bank on Friday, Palestinian health officials said.
The U.S. has also pressed Israel to take additional steps to protect Palestinian civilians and scale back the intensity of its military efforts to root out Hamas in Gaza after the militant group’s deadly assault on Israel on Oct. 7.
