By Aaron Miller-
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Joe Biden spoke on telephone in the latest in a series of communications between the two leaders, focusing on the ongoing crisis in southern Israel and the relentless search for missing Americans in the region.
The White House confirmed that President Biden(pictured) spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu to ”reiterate unwavering U.S. support for Israel. President Biden updated Prime Minister Netanyahu on U.S. military support and reiterated his warning against anyone seeking to expand the conflict”.
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According to a statement from The White House, ‘President Biden discussed with Prime Minister Netanyahu U.S. coordination with the United Nations, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, and others in the region to ensure innocent civilians have access to water, food, and medical care. President Biden affirmed his support for all efforts to protect civilians’.
Only last Tuesday, Biden said Hamas does not represent the “legitimate aspirations” of Palestinian people and says the US “stands with Israel”.
After confirming that some US citizens are part of the many currently being held hostage, Joe Biden called the assault by Hamas militants that more than 1,200 people dead an “act of sheer evil”
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The conflict between Israel and Hamas began a week prior, marked by a series of deadly exchanges that continue to threaten the stability of the region.
In the midst of this turmoil, numerous U.S. citizens have been affected, with 29 confirmed deaths and 15 individuals still unaccounted for.
While the United States government has been tirelessly working to locate the missing individuals and cooperating with Israel in intelligence-sharing and recovery efforts, the situation remains dire.
The phone call between the two heads of state marked the fifth communication between the two leaders since the onset of the conflict, underscoring the gravity of the situation and the importance of their relationship.
During the conversation, Netanyahu and Biden discussed the situation in southern Israel, where Israeli forces are reportedly preparing for a major offensive.
Additionally, Netanyahu expressed his appreciation for the swift and extensive security and intelligence assistance provided by the United States, along with the visits to Israel by top U.S. officials.
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