U.S. President Joe Biden talks with reporters before boarding Air Force One at Chicago O'Hare International Airport in Chicago on Aug. 19, 2024. AFP-YonhapSEOUL, August 23 (AJU PRESS) - President Joe Biden has emphasized the urgent need for a Gaza ceasefire and a hostage release deal in a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to the White House.
During the Wednesday call, which included Vice President Kamala Harris, Biden stressed the importance of clearing any obstacles to an agreement with Hamas. He also reiterated the United States' commitment to defending Israel against threats from Iran and its allied groups, including Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis.
This conversation followed a diplomatic effort by the U.S. Secretary of State, who toured the Middle East to advocate for an end to the conflict.
Netanyahu's office reaffirmed Israel's intention to maintain a military presence in the Philadelphi Corridor along the Gaza-Egypt border as part of any potential deal. Israel remains committed to achieving all its war objectives, including ensuring that Gaza no longer poses a security threat. This position has become a significant sticking point, with Hamas demanding a complete Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza and Egypt opposing Israeli military presence along its border.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken mentioned on Monday that Israel had accepted a "U.S. bridging proposal" after a meeting with Netanyahu. However, Blinken did not clarify whether this proposal required Israeli troop withdrawal from the Philadelphi Corridor. Netanyahu's public insistence on maintaining this plan has reportedly frustrated Washington, with a US official accusing him of making "maximalist statements" that impede progress toward a ceasefire.
Ceasefire talks are scheduled to resume in Cairo this weekend, involving representatives from the US, Israel, Egypt, and Qatar. Although Hamas has not confirmed its attendance, it is believed to be receiving updates through Egyptian and Qatari intermediaries. A Hamas political bureau member stated on Monday that the group had already agreed to a deal on July 2nd and saw no need for further negotiations or discussion of Netanyahu's new demands. The representative accused Netanyahu of seeking to escalate the conflict for personal political gain rather than pursuing a ceasefire.
On Wednesday, Israeli airstrikes in Gaza reportedly killed at least 50 Palestinians, according to Hamas-run health authorities. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported targeting around 30 sites, including tunnels and an observation post. One target was the UN-operated Salah al-Din school in Gaza City, which the IDF claimed was used by Hamas as a hideout. The strike killed at least four people and injured 15 others.
Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN's Palestinian refugee agency, condemned the attack, stating that children were among the victims and that Gaza is no longer a safe place for children, calling the need for a ceasefire "beyond overdue."
Israel's military campaign in Gaza began in response to an unprecedented Oct. 7 attack by Hamas on southern Israel, which resulted in about 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages being taken. Since then, more than 40,223 people have reportedly been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, though these figures do not distinguish between civilians and combatants. The UN's human rights office has noted that most of those killed were women and children.
Additionally, on Wednesday, Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah exchanged fire, with Israel striking a Hezbollah weapons storage facility in the Bekaa Valley and Hezbollah responding with a rocket barrage at Israeli positions in the Golan Heights. The Lebanese health ministry reported one death and 30 injuries, while Israeli authorities confirmed two homes were struck and one person injured.
