Biden tells Netanyahu he wants ‘de-escalation today’ in Gaza conflict
(JTA) — In their fourth phone call since fighting in Gaza began 10 days ago, President Joe Biden pressed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday to begin winding down the conflict immediately.
“The president conveyed to the prime minister that he expected a significant de-escalation today on the path to a ceasefire,” according to a readout of the call published by the White House.
As the death toll in Gaza has reached 219, pressure is mounting on Israel to conclude its bombing campaign against Hamas and other militant groups that have been firing rockets at Israel.
Earlier Wednesday, Netanyahu seemed to reject the pressure, saying in a statement that the Israeli military would continue fighting until it subdued the threat. He also thanked Biden for supporting Israel’s right to self-defense.
A person briefed on the call between the two leaders told Axios that Biden was “firm” and that he made it clear he’s “done kidding around and Israel needs to finish it.”
Israel could not immediately decide on a ceasefire Wednesday because Netanyahu had chosen not to convene his Security Cabinet.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has also stressed the need for de-escalation in calls with his Israeli counterpart, Benny Gantz, according to Axios.
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning journalism this Passover.
In this age of misinformation, our work is needed like never before. We report on the news that matters most to American Jews, driven by truth, not ideology.
At a time when newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall. That means for the first time in our 126-year history, Forward journalism is free to everyone, everywhere. With an ongoing war, rising antisemitism, and a flood of disinformation that may affect the upcoming election, we believe that free and open access to Jewish journalism is imperative.
Readers like you make it all possible. Right now, we’re in the middle of our Passover Pledge Drive and we need 500 people to step up and make a gift to sustain our trustworthy, independent journalism.
Make a gift of any size and become a Forward member today. You’ll support our mission to tell the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
Join our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
Our Goal: 500 gifts during our Passover Pledge Drive!