“We can’t stand by and let this proceed,” he stated. “We’d like an enduring ceasefire now. This battle should finish.”
Israel launched a rescue mission on Monday that freed two Israeli-Argentine hostages held by Palestinian militants of Hamas in Rafah, by the Egyptian border. The 2 males had been amongst 250 folks seized in the course of the Oct 7 raid on Israel by Hamas that triggered Israel’s battle on Gaza.
The Palestinian Authority’s official tv station, Palestine TV, stated 74 folks had been killed in the course of the Israeli navy operation. There was no instant affirmation from the Gaza well being ministry, which is run by Hamas.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated the profitable mission confirmed that navy stress ought to proceed in Gaza, and he brushed apart worldwide alarm at plans for a floor assault on Rafah, the place Israel says Hamas forces stay.
US FRUSTRATION WITH ISRAEL
Biden has proven growing exasperation with Netanyahu for not heeding his recommendation to do extra to minimise casualties and defend civilians in Gaza.
After greater than 4 months of battle, a lot of the densely populated enclave is in ruins, with 28,340 Palestinians useless and 67,984 wounded, in accordance with Gaza well being officers. Many others are believed to be buried underneath rubble.
Biden has demanded that Israel not undertake a floor offensive in Rafah with no plan to guard Palestinian civilians who’re massed there, many in flimsy tents after relocating a number of instances to flee battle in different components of Gaza.
Netanyahu final week ordered the navy to create a plan to evacuate civilians to guard them throughout a floor offensive. Requested about evacuation plans for civilians, an Israeli navy spokesperson on Monday stated he nonetheless did not understand how it will be accomplished.
