Netanyahu to Biden: Israel will continue its war in the Gaza Strip until all its goals are fully achieved

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said in a statement that during a phone call with US President Joe Biden on Saturday, he expressed his appreciation for the United States’ position in the Security Council, in an apparent reference to the council’s discussions on the Gaza war.

The statement said that Netanyahu also made clear that Israel will continue the war until all of its goals are fully achieved.

For his part, the US President said that he didn’t ask Netanyahu for a ceasefire during a phone call between them, Saturday.

Biden added to reporters in Washington, “I had a long conversation with Netanyahu today, and it was a private conversation”.

He continued, “I didn’t ask for a ceasefire,” in response to one of the questions.

Biden and Netanyahu’s call came as battles raged on Saturday between the Israeli army and Hamas militants in the north and south of the Gaza Strip.

Since the beginning of the war on October 7, following the Hamas attack on Israel, Biden has sought to spare the region from a broader war.

About a week ago, Biden urged Israel to be more careful to protect civilians in Gaza, after the White House pressured on Israel to reduce the intensity of its attack in the Strip in the near future.

Biden told reporters after an event at a medical research center near Washington, “I want them to focus on how to save civilian lives, not to stop pursuing Hamas, but to be more careful”.