But the two men do not agree on the Palestinians obtaining a state, which is the solution that Biden called for to achieve long-term peace.
“The President also discussed his vision for a more sustainable peace and security for a fully integrated Israel in the region and a two-state solution while ensuring Israel’s security,” the White House said in a statement regarding his phone call.
Netanyahu said in a press conference that he informed Washington that he objects to any Palestinian state that does not guarantee the security of Israel. “Israel must have security control over the entire territory west of the Jordan River. “This is a necessary condition,” he said.
Smoke rising after the Israeli bombing of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on January 17.credit: AP
Biden's call came as Red Crescent officials accused Israel of opening fire on a hospital in Khan Yunis, the main city in the southern part of Gaza.
She said that the displaced people were injured “due to heavy fire from Israeli drones targeting citizens in Al-Amal Hospital” and the rescue agency’s base. The army said it was verifying the report.
Nearby, Israeli tanks were also approaching Nasser Hospital, the largest functioning hospital in Gaza, where people reported hearing shells coming from the west. Residents also reported violent gun battles in the south.
US President Joe Biden meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv in October.credit: AP
Israel launched a major new advance this week to seize Khan Yunis, which it says is now the primary base for Hamas fighters who attacked Israeli towns on October 7, killing 1,200 people and precipitating a war that has devastated the Gaza Strip.
In the north, where Israel says it has begun withdrawing its forces and shifting to smaller operations, 12 people were killed in strikes on a residential building near the largely non-functional Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, Palestinian health officials said.
An Israeli raid on a house in the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip resulted in the killing of five Palestinians.
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The Gaza Ministry of Health said that 142 Palestinians were killed and 278 wounded in Gaza during the past 24 hours, bringing the death toll from more than three months of war to 24,762.
In response to a question about Mexico and Chile's request for the International Criminal Court to investigate possible crimes against civilians in Gaza, Kirby said the United States was still gathering more information about what that would entail.
“We have no indications that there are deliberate efforts to commit war crimes by the Israel Defense Forces,” Kirby said.
Kirby also expressed concern about reports from Palestinian health officials who said a 17-year-old Palestinian-American teenager was killed by Israeli security forces in the West Bank on Friday.
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“We are deeply concerned by these reports,” Kirby said. “We will be in constant contact with our counterparts in the region to obtain more information.”
Meanwhile, US Central Command forces launched strikes against three Houthi anti-ship missiles in Yemen that were aimed at the southern Red Sea and were ready for launch, the US military said on Thursday.
The incident, which occurred late on Friday (AEDT), was the latest amid escalating tensions in the Red Sea that have disrupted global trade and raised fears of supply bottlenecks.
The Houthis, who control the most populous part of Yemen, say their attacks come in solidarity with the Palestinians who are under attack by Israel in Gaza.
Reuters
