Netanyahu says he will CONTINUE Gaza attacks after Biden told him he expected 'significant de-escalation today'
Daily Mail
May May 19, 2021
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was 'determined' to continue the operation in Gaza until his objectives had been met, shrugging off U.S. President Joe Biden's demand to de-escalate hostilities.
After a visit to military headquarters, he said he appreciated American support but would push ahead until calm had been restored.
His response came hours after Biden told him in a phone call to scale back attacks that have killed hundreds of Palestinians.
It marked a shift from Biden's public position of support for Israel's right to defend itself from Hamas rocket attacks and follows another night of strikes against targets in Gaza.
But the president has faced pressure from within his own party to take a tougher line against Israeli strikes.
'The president conveyed to the prime minister that he expected a significant de-escalation today on the path to a ceasefire,' said the White House.
Netanyahu delivered his response later Wednesday, insisting Israel would push ahead 'to return the calm and security to you, citizens of Israel.'
He said he was 'determined to continue this operation until its aim is met' in a sign of a growing rift between the U.S. and Israel.
Biden's more strident public stance followed earlier reports he privately told Netanyahu that he could not shield him from criticism indefinitely.
It follows repeated public statements from Washington that Israel has the right to defend itself while rockets are fired from Gaza.
But the president came face to face with the anger within his own party about Israeli aggression on Tuesday, when he was confronted by Rep. Rashida Tlaib during a visit to Detroit.
She told the president he must do more to protect Palestinian lives and human rights.
'Palestinian human rights are not a bargaining chip and must be protected, not negotiated,' Tlaib told him, according to her congressional office.
Netanyahu has so far refused to consider a truce, saying Israel was fighting to restore peace and maximize the chances that a ceasefire with Hamas would hold.
'There are only two ways that you can deal with them (Hamas): You can either conquer them, and that's always an open possibility, or you can deter them, and we are engaged right now in forceful deterrence, but I have to say we don't rule out anything,' Netanyahu told foreign ambassadors in Tel Aviv on Wednesday.
He added the offensive would end when it had achieved its aims.
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