Gaza: Biden tells Netanyahu his "concern", calls on Abbas to end rocket fire
A man carries the body of a Palestinian child killed in an outbreak of violence during his funeral in a cemetery in the northern Gaza Strip on May 15, 2021. REUTERS - SUHAIB SALEM
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4 min
Joe Biden on Saturday (May 15th) said his "
great concern
" to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the escalation of violence in Israel and Gaza, telling Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that Hamas must "
stop firing rockets
".
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The US president had already spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, but this is his first telephone interview with the head of the Palestinian Authority since he arrived at the White House in January. Joe Biden stressed to Mahmoud Abbas "
the need for Hamas to stop firing rockets at Israel
" and reaffirmed to Beyamin Netanyahu his "
strong support for Israel's right to defend itself against
" these attacks carried out by the Islamist movement "
and other terrorist groups in Gaza,
”according to separate statements from the US executive. The president also "
condemned these indiscriminate attacks on cities across Israel
", according to the text.
But Mahmoud Abbas has no hold on Hamas, which is on the contrary for him a real adversary in the Palestinian game.
In addition, the United States does not have official relations with Hamas which it considers to be a terrorist organization.
It is therefore difficult to be a mediator if you are only talking to one of the two parties to the conflict.
► To read also: Middle East: new Israeli bombings on Gaza, an American envoy on the spot
Since the start of this new round of violence between the Jewish state and Palestinian groups in the Gaza Strip on Monday, May 10, more than 150 people, most of them Palestinians, have been killed.
The US President also expressed to the Israeli Prime Minister his concern over "
the safety of journalists
" after an Israeli strike destroyed a building housing the premises of the US agency AP in Gaza and Al-Jazeera , according to a statement from the White House.
The director of Al-Jazeera also denounced a "
war crime
" and an attempt to "
silence the media
" after the bombing.
► See also:
Israeli strike on the Al-Jazeera and Associated Press media building in Gaza
Democratic President Joe Biden has also voiced great concern over inter-community violence in Israel.
He praised the statements by the Prime Minister and other leaders opposing "
such hateful actions
".
He also "
noted that this current phase of the conflict has tragically claimed the lives of Israeli and Palestinian civilians, including children
."
A
"negotiated two-state solution"
To Mahmoud Abbas, Joe Biden repeated "
the American commitment to strengthen the partnership
" with the Palestinians, seriously dented
under the mandate of Donald Trump
.
The US president finally "
expressed his support for measures to allow the Palestinian people to enjoy the dignity, security, freedom and economic opportunities they deserve
."
He recalled the resumption in April of American aid to the Palestinians, interrupted under the presidency of Donald Trump.
A "
negotiated two-state solution
" is "
the best way to achieve a just and lasting resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,
" added the US president.
The spokesman for the Palestinian presidency, Nabil Abou Rudeinah, told AFP that this interview was "
important
".
Washington also sent an envoy to Israel and the Palestinian Territories, Hady Amr, to urge "
de-escalation
."
"This operation is not yet over,"
warns Netanhayu
The Israeli prime minister said on Saturday that Israel would continue to strike in the Gaza Strip for as long as necessary and do everything possible to avoid civilian casualties, blaming Hamas for the violent clashes of the past few days.
"
The party that bears the guilt of this confrontation is not us, it is those who attack us
," Netanyahu said in a televised speech.
"
We are still in the middle of this operation, it is not yet complete and this operation will continue as long as necessary,
" he said.
(With
agencies
)
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Gaza
United States
Joe biden
Benjamin Netanyahu
Mahmoud Abbas
Israelo-Palestinian conflict