Netanyahu rejected B’s “de-escalation” request …

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was “determined” to continue the military operation in Gaza. “restore the peace and security of Israeli citizens”, shortly after speaking with US President Joe Biden, who demanded “significant de-escalation” immediately. Netanyahu’s comments push back the possibility of a ceasefire for Thursday afternoon, a rumor put forward by some media but which neither side has confirmed or denied so far. This Wednesday Israeli airstrikes killed six people in Gaza Strip, destroyed family home, and the military said it had extended its bombardments to more targets in the territory to curb Hamas rocket fire. In addition four rockets were fired from Lebanon into Israell, in the third such incident since the beginning of the current escalation of the war between Israelis and Palestinians.

“With each passing day, we are attacking more capabilities of terrorist organizations, we are attacking more senior commanders, demolishing more terrorist buildings and attacking more arsenals of weapons.”, he pointed Netanyahu after visiting the army headquarters in Tel Aviv. The Prime Minister thanked the “Support from our friend the President of the United States, Joe Biden, for the right of the State of Israel to self-defense”, without mentioning the request for “significant de-escalation” after a telephone conversation between the two.

In the morning and in a meeting with the ambassadors, Netanyahu insisted that it is “Israel’s natural right” to defend itself. “We are trying to maximize” the operation to restore “the peace and period of calm that Israel can gain.”the prime minister said in reference to the airstrikes against targets of Hamas and Islamic Jihad militias. To achieve this goal, he assured, “There are two ways to do it: conquer (Gaza), and that is always a possibility, or be able to dissuade them” from attacking Israeli territory.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre informed reporters aboard Air Force One that President Biden “has informed the Prime Minister that he expects a significant de-escalation on the road to a ceasefire.”. Previously, US media CNN and Politico, which quoted officials who asked not to be named, said the United States privately encouraged Israel to reduce its attacks in Gaza, despite Security Council statements of blocking United Nations calling for an immediate ceasefire.

As the fighting escalates, medical supplies, fuel and water begin to run out in Gaza. Among the six victims in the territory on Wednesday, two died as a result of the impact on their apartment of a warning missile. Israel also destroyed the home of a family of 40 in the southern town of Khan Younis., after having warned its occupants five minutes before the attack so that they could leave. In the afternoon, residents searched the rubble for their belongings, the Palestinian Ma’an News Agency reported.

The IDF said it hit targets of armed groups in Khan Younis and near Rafah, with 52 bombings hitting 40 underground tunnels. Gaza’s health ministry said a woman died and eight others were injured in the attacks. Another Palestinian girl was killed by the IDF after trying to attack Israeli soldiers and civilians with a rifle near a Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank. Hamas Al Aqsa radio reported that one of its journalists was killed in a bombing Tuesday night in Gaza City.

The Israeli army on Wednesday announced artillery fire against southern Lebanon after four rockets were launched from that country into the Hebrew state. “The Iron Dome missile shield intercepted one of them and the other three probably fell in the open. In retaliation, our artillery fired at targets in Lebanese territory,” the army said in a brief statement. So far, no casualties have been reported.

This is the third time that rockets have been launched from Lebanese territory into Israel since the start of hostilities. between that country and Palestinian armed groups in the Gaza Strip last week. Rockets were fired from the Shebaa Farm area in southern Lebanon on Monday evening into Israel, but they failed to cross the border. The Israeli army responded with artillery fire.

The border between Lebanon and Israel has been the scene of daily protests last week to denounce Israel’s murderous campaign in Gaza.. The Israeli military offensive in Gaza began on May 10, after Hamas fired rockets at Jerusalem in response to Israeli police actions on the plaza of Al Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest site in the country. Islam. The escalation of war between Palestinian militias in Gaza and Israel has entered its 10th day and has already resulted in the deaths of at least 219 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and 12 people in Israel.