Biden urges Netanyahu to “pave the way for a ceasefire” in Gaza Benjamin Netanyahu News

The U.S. president told the Israeli he expected a “significant escalation” before the ceasefire on Wednesday.

US President Joe Biden calls on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to escalate tensions “on the way” to Gaza conflict ceasefire.

“The two leaders had a detailed discussion about the state of affairs in Gaza, Israel’s progress in degrading the capabilities of Hamas and other terrorist elements, and the ongoing diplomatic efforts of regional governments and the United States,” White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said. reporters on Wednesday.

“The President conveyed to the Prime Minister that he expected a significant escalation today towards the ceasefire,” Jean-Pierre added.

Last week was the fourth call between U.S. and Israeli leaders.

Citing an unnamed official, The Associated Press reported that Biden and administrative officials have pushed for Netanyahu and other senior Israeli officials The bombing of Gaza.

According to the report, Biden administration officials stressed to Israel on Monday and Tuesday that there is no time on the one hand for international objections to Israeli airstrikes and Hamas rockets, and that they are interested in ending operations. soon.

Meanwhile, The New York Times reported that Biden had taken a “sharper” tone with Netanyahu in Monday’s call, and said he could only deny criticism of the Gaza attacks for a limited time.

Accounts show that officials in the Biden administration went further than Netanyahu in private messaging than they had previously revealed. When Biden read the White House’s call for Netanyahu on Monday, Biden said he was in favor of a ceasefire, but Israel reaffirmed its right to defend itself and said nothing about what the U.S. was asking Israel to end the fighting.

On Wednesday, Israel said it would not set a deadline for ending Gaza with its enemies, as its army launched a Palestinian enclave with airstrikes and Hamas militants released new cross-border rocket attacks.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to Israeli ambassadors at an information meeting at the Hakirya military base in Tel Aviv [Sebastian Scheiner/Pool via AP]

A sign of the diplomatic move, however, an Egyptian security source told Reuters news agency that the two sides had agreed in principle to a ceasefire after the help of mediators, but details were being negotiated in secret to deny the deal. falling.

Palestinian medical officials say 219 people have been killed in 10-day airstrikes that destroyed roads, buildings and other infrastructure and have already exacerbated the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.

The Israeli authorities killed 12 people in Israel, caused rocket fire and sent people running to the shelters.