US President Joe Biden, in a phone call Thursday, again warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against continuing the military operation in Rafah in the Gaza Strip without a “credible and workable plan” to protect civilians.
The following day, Netanyahu vowed to reject “international dictates” on a long-term solution to Israel’s conflict with the Palestinians.
In his letter to website X, Netanyahu said such a solution could be reached only through negotiations. He also stressed Israel’s opposition to unilateral recognition of statehood, saying it would be a “huge reward” for Hamas after its deadly October 7 attack on Israel.
On Monday, Biden again insisted that Israel must eventually seek a two-state solution, adding that the Palestinian authority needed to be prepared to negotiate an enduring peace. He noted:
Once Hamas’ control of Gaza is over, they must be prepared to build a state that accepts peace, does not harbor terrorist groups.
Israeli troops stormed the main hospital in the southern Gaza Strip on Thursday as part of a limited operation to search for the remains of hostages taken by Hamas.
Israeli troops, tanks and snipers have been surrounding the hospital compound for at least a week, firing heavily around the perimeter, and have killed several people inside the compound in recent days, according to health officials. Israel accuses Hamas of using hospitals and other civilian facilities to harbour its militants.
Earlier this month, Biden said Israel’s military response in the Gaza Strip was “excessive” and expressed grave concern about rising civilian casualties in the Palestinian enclave.
The war began on 7 October when Hamas infiltrated Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 240 hostages, according to Israeli calculations. Israel’s air and ground offensive destroyed tiny crowded Gaza, killing 28,663 people, mostly civilians, according to health authorities, and displacing almost all of its more than 2 million people.
