In a context of growing tensions linked to the Israeli offensive in Gaza, Joe Biden and Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by telephone this Monday, March 18.
The two heads of state discussed the “latest events underway in Israel and Gaza, including the situation in Rafah and efforts to increase humanitarian aid,” the White House said in a statement.
The Israeli Prime Minister, who rejects pressure from Washington, declared that Israel was retaining its planned offensive on the town of Rafah, in the south of the Gaza Strip.
Joe Biden warned against any operation in Rafah without a “credible” plan to protect the city where more than a million people are located.
Sending soldiers and building a temporary port
If the American president has supported Israel since the Hamas attack on October 7, the latter on the other hand is moving further and further away from Benjamin Netanyahu.
Last week, Joe Biden rightly praised the “good speech” given by the leader of the Democratic senators Chuck Schumer, who called for the organization of elections in Israel.
Also read “He gave a good speech”: Joe Biden approves speaking critically of Netanyahu
The UN has also warned of the risk of famine in Gaza.
In response, the American president sent soldiers to build a temporary port, and ordered the dropping of food aid on the territory.
But the United States continues to provide billions of dollars in military aid to its close ally.
As a reminder, the Hamas attack on October 7 in southern Israel resulted in the deaths of at least 1,160 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP count established from official Israeli sources.
In retaliation, Israel launched a massive air campaign, followed on October 27 by a ground offensive which left 31,726 dead in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas Ministry of Health.