Israel-Gaza war: Biden calls on Netanyahu to safeguard Gaza's civilian population as Israel intensifies ground offensive

Israel-Gaza war: In a phone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, U.S. President Joe Biden emphasized the imperative to safeguard civilians in Gaza. This occurred as Israel escalated its ground offensive and conducted airstrikes in Gaza.

As Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip intensified, global calls for the protection of civilians grew louder. The White House urged Israel to differentiate between Hamas militants and innocent residents, and world leaders pressed for immediate humanitarian aid to reach the war-ravaged Palestinian territory.

The Israeli military reported more than 450 airstrikes on militant targets within the past 24 hours, including Hamas command centers and missile launch positions. The strikes led to the deaths of dozens of Hamas militants and produced large columns of smoke over Gaza City.

Since the October 7 attack by Hamas, resulting in over 1,400 casualties, mostly civilians, Israel's retaliatory bombardments have caused over 8,000 Palestinian deaths, with half being children.

Latest developments in the conflict:

Early on Monday, Palestinians in northern Gaza reported intense air and artillery strikes as Israeli troops, supported by tanks, expanded their ground assault. The bombardments targeted areas near Gaza City's Shifa and Al-Quds hospitals, and clashes occurred between Palestinian militants and Israeli forces in southern Gaza's Khan Younis.

Hours before these strikes, Israel released images of battle tanks along the Gaza Strip's western coast, indicating a possible attempt to encircle Gaza's main city. This move followed Israel's decision to expand ground incursions into the Hamas-controlled territory.

U.S. call for restraint:

The United States urged Israel to protect innocent Gaza residents and distinguish between Hamas militants and civilians. While affirming Israel's right to self-defense, President Biden stressed that it must align with international humanitarian law, prioritizing civilian protection.

Israeli strikes in Syria and Lebanon:

Israeli forces also carried out strikes in Syria and Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah positions. These actions were in response to launches from these areas into Israel.

UN warning and aid efforts:

The United Nations warned of a breakdown in "civil order" in Gaza as crowds ransacked food warehouses on Sunday. Later, 33 aid trucks from Egypt were allowed into Gaza, marking the largest single-day aid delivery since the conflict began. However, humanitarian workers stated that this assistance remains insufficient.

World leaders, including British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and French President Emmanuel Macron, issued urgent appeals for aid to Gaza. Both President Biden and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi committed to increasing assistance to Gaza.

Incident in Russia:

In Russia, an incident occurred in the Caucasus republic of Dagestan, where a mob looking for Israelis and Jews overran an airport due to rumors of a flight arriving from Israel. Security forces later regained control of the situation, and authorities vowed to hold those responsible accountable.

- With inputs from agencies

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