The White House says the two leaders discussed Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, including its “objectives and progress.”
US President Joe Biden said he did not ask Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza during a phone call between the two leaders.
“I had a long conversation with Netanyahu today (Saturday) and it was a private conversation,” Biden told reporters Saturday.
“I did not call for a ceasefire,” he said in response to a shouted question.
In a subsequent statement, the White House said Biden and Netanyahu discussed Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, including its “objectives and progress.”
Biden “stressed 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,” it said. the press release.
“The leaders discussed the importance of securing the release of all remaining hostages. »
The call between the two leaders came a day after the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) adopted a resolution calling for increased aid to Gaza, but stopped short of calling for a ceasefire or a break from fighting that lasts for weeks.
The resolution, which demanded “immediate, safe and unhindered” deliveries of life-saving aid to Gaza “on a large scale”, was adopted after members of the UN Security Council argued for days over its wording and toned down certain provisions at Washington’s insistence.
The United States and Russia abstained from the vote, the impact of which on the ground, humanitarian organizations fear, will be close to zero.
“This resolution has been watered down to the point that its impact on the lives of civilians in Gaza will be almost meaningless,” Avril Benoit, executive director of Doctors Without Borders, said in a statement.
“The manner in which Israel is waging this war, with the support of the United States, is causing massive death and suffering among Palestinian civilians and is incompatible with international norms and laws,” Benoit added.
The United States also opposed the request for a UN aid monitoring mechanism, ensuring that Israel would continue to play a role in inspecting deliveries.
Netanyahu “expressed his appreciation” on Saturday for the position taken by the United States at the UN, his office said. He also “made clear that Israel would continue the war until all of its objectives were achieved.”
More than 200 dead in 24 hours
Israel has continued to bomb Gaza for nearly 80 days, killing more than 200 people in the past 24 hours.
Gaza’s health ministry said the death toll since the attacks began on Saturday stood at 20,258, most of them women and children.
According to UN estimates, the war has displaced 1.9 million of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents.
The UN has described the situation in Gaza as “beyond catastrophic”, with residents struggling to find food, fuel and water, while living in overcrowded shelters or tents.
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“It is extremely tragic that politics stands in the way of the survival of 2.2 million people in Gaza,” UNRWA spokesperson Tamara al-Rifai told a news conference on Saturday.
