Joe Biden tells Benjamin Netanyahu he supports a ceasefire between Israel and the Hamas terror group

The president of the United States, Joe Biden, told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of his support for a ceasefire in the armed conflict that the country has maintained with the terrorist group Hamas for a week.

In a statement on the conversation, the White House said the president “reaffirmed its strong support for Israel’s right to defend itself against indiscriminate missile attacks“And” encouraged Israel to do everything to ensure the protection of innocent civilians. “

Biden also referred to “his efforts in this direction with Egypt and other partners,” the document added. The new call takes place in the middle of intense negotiations in this direction within the international community.

The Secretary of State of the North American country, Antony blink, launched numerous public appeals with senior officials from different countries condemned to defuse the conflict: he met with representatives of the Israel, the European Union, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Tunisia.

During the day, he also clarified that a “false equivalence” could not be made between Israel and Hamas, and also called on both sides to protect civilians and children. “We will continue to conduct active diplomacy to end this cycle of violence “and” we stand ready to lend our support if the parties are to achieve a ceasefire.“Blinken added at a press conference in Copenhagen, the Danish capital.

During the day, Netanyahu He said he instructed the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to continue bombing Hamas targets in Gaza.

“I approved plans with the Minister of Defense, the IDF Chief of Staff, the head of the National Security Council, the Shin Bet (the internal intelligence service) and the Mossad. IDF is doing well. Today they have eliminated another top Islamic Jihad commander, hit a Hamas naval unit and continue to attack Hamas’ tunnel network, ”he said in a statement.

“We will continue to act for as long as necessary to restore peace and security to all residents of Israel.“, He added.

As reported by local media Times of Israel, IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi told officials in areas near Gaza that the clashes would continue for at least two more days, but could be prolonged “as long as necessary”. However, the same media also quoted a senior diplomatic source who assured that a ceasefire is near and that it should be reached in “two days at most”..

Since the conflict escalated a week ago, Palestinian terrorist groups have fired more than 3,350 rockets at Israel, killing 10 Israelis and injuring 294, the IDF reported on Monday in its latest update. these informations.

This is the highest launch rate ever recorded against Israeli territory.said the IDF, which also claimed that a significant percentage of them had been intercepted by its Iron Dome missile shield.

The Israeli army, which accuses Hamas of using civilians as “shields”, responded with a new series of late night attacks on the night from Sunday to Monday. On Monday, the IDF said in a statement that it had attacked nine houses belonging to senior Hamas commanders, some of which were used to “store weapons” and a ship “suspected of being a submersible naval weapon”.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that Hussam Abu Harbeed, commander of the Islamic Jihad group in the northern division of the Gaza Strip, was killed in the attacks. According to the military, he led the attacks on Israel for more than 15 years. The Palestinian militia also confirmed the dismissal of Abu Harbeed.

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