A call between US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has revealed tensions over the issue of Palestinian statehood. Biden suggested a non-militarised government for an independent Palestinian state. The suggestion prompted pushback from Netanyahu, who emphasised Israel’s need for security control over Gaza even after dealing with Hamas.
Netanyahu’s office stated that this security requirement contradicts the demand for Palestinian sovereignty. While Biden expressed optimism about the possibility of Netanyahu becoming open to a two-state solution, Netanyahu remained steadfast in his stance on Israel’s security control.
Biden’s call with Netanyahu, the first in nearly a month, marked a renewed focus on the long-standing issue of a two-state solution. Despite the collapse of US-backed peace talks a decade ago, Biden hinted at the potential for different forms of a two-state solution.
However, a senior Hamas official, Izzat al-Rishq, described Biden’s stance as an illusion that does not resonate with the Palestinian people. Al-Rishq accused Biden of being a full partner in what he termed a genocidal war. He was sceptic about any positive outcomes from the US administration.
Relatives of hostages held by Hamas staged protests outside Benjamin Netanyahu’s home, demanding decisive action after 105 days of urging the government to show leadership.
Deadly Israeli airstrikes continue in Gaza, with recent reports of summary executions carried out by Israeli forces in Gaza, as revealed through footage and witness accounts shared. Fighting continues near Nasser Hospital and in Khan Younis as Israeli raids persist. The UN Women’s Agency warned about the generational trauma faced by Palestinians, citing the statistic that two mothers are killed every hour in Israel’s ongoing offensive.
The toll continues to rise, with at least 24,927 people killed and 62,388 wounded in Gaza alone, as of the latest count.
Meanwhile, a missile strike on Damascus resulted in the death of four members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. The deaths were confirmed in a statement by the Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), condemning the attack as a violation of international law by “the criminal Zionist regime.” Among the casualties was believed to be the head of the intelligence department of the Quds Force, the elite unit of the IRGC.