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Faced with increasing pressure from activists and members of his own Democratic Party, US President Joe Biden expressed support for a ceasefire to end violence in the Gaza Strip.
In a statement on Monday, the White House said that Biden “expressed support for the ceasefire and discussed the United States’ engagement with Egypt for this purpose” in a phone call with Israeli caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The statement said: “The President reiterated his firm support for Israel to defend its right to be protected from indiscriminate rocket attacks.”
One day ago, Netanyahu Say The Israeli military offensive on Gaza will continue to “full force.” According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, since May 10, Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip have killed more than 212 people, including 61 children.
Thousands of Palestinians have been displaced, Israel bombingIt started after launching rockets from Gaza to Israel on May 10.
Hamas, the Palestinian faction that governs blocked Palestinian territories, said it fired rockets in retaliation for forcing the deportation of Palestinians from occupied East Jerusalem and the Israeli attack on the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
After the White House’s appeal to Netanyahu was read out, Biden “welcome efforts to resolve inter-ethnic violence and calm Jerusalem” and “encourage Israel to make every effort to ensure the protection of innocent civilians”.
Since the fighting broke out, Biden and senior officials in his administration have clearly and publicly supported Israel, while insisting that they are working to mitigate the escalation of violence through diplomatic and military channels.
But the third time in the U.S. Blocked The UN’s statement condemning Israel’s deadly military offensive in Gaza-aroused widespread criticism.
US Army General Mark Milley warned on Monday that continued fighting could disrupt the situation outside the Gaza Strip. Reuters reported that Millley told reporters shortly before landing in Brussels for talks with NATO allies: “There is no benefit in continuing to fight.”
Millley said: “My assessment is that you may face a wider range of turbulence. If you continue to fight, you will face a series of negative consequences.” “At present, downgrading is a wise choice for all parties involved.”
King Abdullah of Jordan emphasized in a phone call with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday: “The international community must shoulder its responsibilities and take effective actions to stop the Israeli attack and avoid another attack. Occur and stop the aggression against Gaza”. , The Royal Court said in a statement.
Al Jazeera’s John Hendren reported from Washington, DC, saying that Biden is facing criticism from Republicans and Democratic progressives.
In an emotional speech delivered on the floor of the House of Representatives on May 13, Palestinian American representative Rashida Tlaib (Rashida Tlaib) Criticize Biden And other senior government officials because they failed to recognize the “Palestinian humanity” in the Israeli air strikes.
Henderen said of the recent comments made by Tlaib and other Progressive Democratic representatives Ilhan Omar and Alexander Ocasio-Cortez: “These words are stronger than what we have heard in the past. “
At last! ! Our delay in supporting the ceasefire has resulted in the killing of children and the destruction of lives.
Now, Biden must end the occupation. https://t.co/pfgDoIfpK0
-Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) May 17, 2021
At the same time, a group of 25 Democratic senators signed an open letter to Biden over the weekend calling for an immediate ceasefire.
On Monday, as the death toll of Palestinians in Gaza continued to increase, Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who has been a staunch defender of Israel, also called for a ceasefire.
Schumer told reporters in the U.S. Capitol: “I hope to see the ceasefire come true quickly and mourn the loss of life,” said Schumer. He supported the earlier statements of the Senate Democratic and Republican leaders calling for a ceasefire.
Senators Chris Murphy and Todd Young said in a May 16 statement: “Due to the Hamas rocket attack and Israel’s response, both parties must recognize that too many people have been killed and no further Escalation conflict.”
Henderen said that “shocking” is that most Senate Democrats have signed a letter encouraging Biden to call for a ceasefire as soon as possible. He said: “This is a criticism of the Democrats alluding that he did not do enough.”
Phyllis Bennis, director of the New Internationalism Project at the Washington, DC Policy Institute, said that the Biden administration has been following the footsteps of the former president in supporting Israel during the crisis.
Bennis told Al Jazeera in an email on Monday: “Washington has always responded to Israel’s attacks on Gaza or Lebanon, refusing to allow the United Nations to push for an immediate ceasefire… and sending more weapons to support Israel’s existing weapons provided by the United States Library.”
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