Biden asks Netanyahu to comply with international humanitarian law

The American President, Joe Bidenurged the Israeli Prime Minister on Sunday Benjamin Nentanyahuin a telephone conversation with comply with international humanitarian law in the context of the military offensive against the Gaza Strip.

“The President has reiterated that Israel has every right and responsibility to defend its citizens against terrorism and has emphasized the need to do so in a manner consistent with International Humanitarian Law, which prioritises the protection of civilians,” the White House reported. .

This is the first time that Biden has so openly defended the need for Israel to respect international humanitarian law since the start of retaliatory military operations in the Gaza Strip in response to past attacks by Hamas militias on Israeli territory.

“The president has emphasized the need immediately and significantly increase humanitarian aid to meet the needs of the citizens of Gaza,” Washington has stressed.

The conversation also discussed “the efforts being made to locate and release the hostages” and the American citizens who are still missing and could be held hostage by Hamas.

For his part, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and French President Emmanuel Macron They held a phone call in which they agreed to cooperate in “efforts to get food, fuel, water and crucial medicines to those who need them” and also to get “foreign citizens” out of the Gaza Strip.

Following Israel’s announcement of the expansion of its operations in Gaza, Sunak and Macron made their position known concerns about the risk of a possible regional escalation of violenceespecially in the West Bank.

The US urges Netanyahu to immediately curb Israeli settler violence

In addition, the United States National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivanhas asked Netanyahu to take responsibility and to stem the spike in violence orchestrated by Israeli settlers against the Palestinian population of the West Bank since the outbreak of the Gaza war.

“Netanyahu is responsible for keeping the settlers in check,” Sullivan said in what he described as “completely unacceptable” episodes of persecution of the Palestinian population, preceded by months of intimidation caused by ultra-nationalist partners of the Prime Minister’s former government coalition.

That coalition has now been replaced by a concentration government, although its ultra-allies, such as the Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, continue to act almost at their discretion. This pressure has led to crimes such as the shooting death of a 40-year-old Palestinian at the hands of a group of settlers while he was picking olives near Nablus, as confirmed yesterday by the Israeli army itself.

“We are faced with a problem that still persists. We hope that the Israeli government will increase its efforts in this area over time. We hope that the extremist settlers who commit this kind of violence will be brought to justice.” he indicated.

Also This Sunday, France condemned the attacks by Israeli settlers on the Palestinian population in the occupied West Bankwhich have ‘multiplied’ and ‘are inadmissible’ in recent days, and urged the Israeli government ‘to take all measures as quickly as possible to protect the Palestinian population, in particular the community of Susiya who need immediate has received threats’.