Biden asks Netanyahu for a ceasefire in Gaza, but does not demand that it be immediate

The President of the United States, Joe Biden, has asked the acting Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian autonomous territory that has been the scene of fierce confrontation between Israel and the pro-Iranian fundamentalist group. Hamas for a week. According to different sources, at least 222 people have died, of which 212 are Palestinians and 10 Israelis.

Biden, however, has not asked Netanyahu for an immediate end to hostilities.. According to a Tel Aviv government source told the US news website Axios, the President of the United States limited himself to asking the head of the State of Israel – whom he has referred to in the past as “a friend”, despite because the two have had considerable political divergences in the past – to call off hostilities at some point.

Biden has also insisted that Israel has the right to defend itself, which, in the US, implies implicit support for the actions of the Hebrew State (in its 1947 Declaration of Independence, Israel declared itself a “Jewish and democratic state”).

For his part, Netanyahu appears in no hurry to stop the war.. According to what was published by the US press, the Prime Minister of Israel has insisted that his Armed Forces must first achieve their military objectives.. Israel seeks with its attacks to reduce what it considers an unacceptable military threat from Hamas against its territory.

Biden's words come just as the United States has blocked for the third consecutive time a declaration by the United Nations Security Council calling for an end to hostilities.. Thus, the US attitude seems destined to make Israel suspend the attacks in the next few days, but not immediately..