World Courant
President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke on Sunday of their first name since Biden issued his strongest rebuke but of Israel’s navy operations in Gaza, with Biden calling the Israeli forces’ actions “overblown.”
Individuals assess the harm attributable to the Israeli bombing of Rafah within the southern Gaza Strip on February 9, 2024, as preventing between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas motion continues.
Individuals assess the harm attributable to the Israeli bombardment of Rafah within the southern Gaza Strip, February 9, 2024, as preventing between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas motion continues.
Of their Sunday name, Biden informed Netanyahu {that a} navy operation within the southern Gaza metropolis of Rafah, the place many Palestinians have fled for security, “shouldn’t proceed and not using a credible and actionable plan to make sure civilian safety,” they mentioned. the White Home in a speech. rack.
In keeping with the United Nations, greater than half of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have sought refuge in Rafah after being pushed from their houses for the reason that Israeli navy offensive started.
This mix of photographs from the Palestinian governorate of Rafah within the southern Gaza Strip on October 15, 2023 (L) and the identical spot, on January 14, 2024, reveals the rise within the variety of folks 4 months after the Israel-Israeli struggle. Hamas.
When requested about Biden’s remark in a Sunday interview with ABC Information co-host Jonathan Karl, Netanyahu mentioned: “I do not know precisely what he (Biden) meant by that, however put your self in Israel’s footwear. have been attacked. … I feel we responded in a means that goes after the terrorists and tries to reduce the civilian inhabitants.”
A senior administration official informed reporters that Biden’s “exaggerated” remark was “not particularly addressed” in the course of the two leaders’ name on Sunday. Biden as an alternative reiterated that he needs to see Hamas defeated, though this “have to be carried out whereas guaranteeing that operations … are performed in a way that ensures that innocents are protected to the extent potential,” the official mentioned.
Individuals mourn as they obtain the useless our bodies of victims of an Israeli assault on February 9, 2024 in Rafah, Gaza.
Requested whether or not Israel has indicated the feasibility of clearing greater than 1 million civilians in Rafah from hurt’s means, the senior official mentioned Israel “has made it clear that with out this operation they’d not think about an operation.”
The official added that plans are underway to acquire sufficient US-purchased flour to feed almost 1.5 million Gazans for six months, however logistical points should be resolved.
Palestinian kids look forward to meals cooked by a charity kitchen amid meals provide shortages as the continuing battle between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas continues, in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, February 5, 2024.
In Biden’s almost 45-minute telephone name with Netanyahu, the 2 leaders spent about two-thirds of the decision discussing ongoing negotiations on a hostage deal, the senior official mentioned.
The official mentioned there’s now a framework for the hostage settlement, which has been “a major focus” for Biden over the previous month, however there are gaps that should be closed. The official later admitted that a few of these gaps are “important” however mentioned progress has been made up to now three weeks.
-ABC Information’ Fritz Farrow
