US President Joe Biden put pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday over the need for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages, but both Israel and Hamas remained steadfast in their stances. Among those taking part in the conversation during the ongoing violence in Gaza, where it is believed that Israeli airstrikes have killed at least fifty Palestinians in the past 24 hours, was Vice President Kamala Harris.
In addition to stressing the significance of concluding the truce and ending the hostage crisis, Biden talked about the forthcoming negotiations in Cairo that are meant to address outstanding issues. Negotiators from the US, Israel, Egypt, and Qatar have failed to close the gaps between Israel and Hamas in spite of these attempts. According to a statement from Netanyahu's office, Israel will not back down from its security goals, which include maintaining its military presence in the heavily disputed Philadelphi Corridor.
Hamas restated its demands, which include an unconditional Israeli departure from Gaza and the exchange of Palestinian detainees' hostages. The phone conversation between Biden and Netanyahu came after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's recent visit, which ended without any progress in the ten-month-old dispute. Israeli airstrikes in Gaza caused civilian casualties at a number of locations, including an attack on a school managed by the UN that left multiple children injured or dead.
In the densely populated central Gazan region of Deir Al-Balah, the Israeli military issued fresh orders for evacuation, citing the necessity of removing civilians from a battle zone. Since Hamas began bombing Israeli homes and military bases in October, about 40,000 people have died in Gaza as a result of the current military campaign. about 1,200 individuals have also been taken prisoner.
Many people in Gaza are still displaced, living in appalling conditions and being moved frequently. The humanitarian situation is getting worse despite efforts to negotiate a truce, with more people becoming displaced and experiencing more pain. Many people have expressed their desperation about the lack of movement towards peace, with the conflict causing severe suffering.
