Biden, Netanyahu discuss hostages, shift to ‘targeted ops’ in Gaza, PA tax revenues — White House

Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, second right, confers with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, right, during their meeting with US President Joe Biden, left, to discuss the war between Israel and Hamas, in Tel Aviv on October 18, 2023. (Miriam Alster/Pool Photo via AP)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, second right, confers with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, right, during their meeting with US President Joe Biden, left, to discuss the war between Israel and Hamas, in Tel Aviv on October 18, 2023. (Miriam Alster/Pool Photo via AP)

US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed ongoing efforts to secure the release of all remaining hostages held in Gaza during their phone call earlier today, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby says during a press briefing.

“The two leaders also reviewed the situation in Gaza and the shift to targeted operations that will enable the flow of increasing amounts of humanitarian assistance, while keeping the military pressure on Hamas and its leaders significant,” Kirby says.

The White House has been pushing for over a month for Israel to shift to lower-intensity fighting in Gaza amid the mounting death toll. While Israel has withdrawn one of the four divisions it had operating in Gaza, fighting has remained intense in southern Gaza and the death toll continues to rise.

Biden stressed “Israel’s responsibility — even as it maintains military pressure on Hamas and its leaders — to reduce civilian harm and to protect innocent civilians,” Kirby says.

Also during the call, Biden asked for a status update regarding the hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenues that Israel has been withholding from the Palestinian Authority, which has infuriated the US. Kirby notes that the funds also go toward paying the salaries of the PA security forces with whom Israel cooperates to combat terror in the West Bank.

Israel’s security cabinet is slated to hold a Sunday vote on a new proposal that would see the funds transferred after months of delay.

“The president also discussed his vision for a more durable peace and security for Israel, fully integrated within the region, and a two-state solution with Israel’s security guaranteed,” Kirby added.

On this issue, there has been growing daylight between Israel and the US, with the former rejecting the latter’s vision for a post-war Gaza which would be reunited politically with the West Bank under the PA’s rule as part of a broader diplomatic initiative aimed at an eventual two-state solution and an expanded Abraham Accords.

Netanyahu has rejected the notion of establishing a Palestinian state but has offered few details on his alternative vision for Gaza while blocking the cabinet from holding discussions on the matter, knowing that it risks collapsing his coalition.

“We are not trying to force their hand or force them to change their policy…but we can’t talk about post war Gaza without discussing the Palestinian people’s aspirations and governance in Gaza”, Kirby says during his press briefing.

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