Biden stresses minimizing civilian deaths in Beirut, vows to remain in ‘close contact’ with Netanyahu in coming days

During his call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier today, US President Joe Biden affirmed Israel’s right to protect its citizens from the Hezbollah terror group, while emphasizing the need for a diplomatic agreement between Israel and Hezbollah that would allow civilians on both sides of the Blue Line to return to their homes, the White House says.

In recent days, the Biden administration has gradually walked away from its initiative for a 21-day ceasefire along the Blue Line, while intensifying its support for the limited Israeli raids aimed at dismantling Hezbollah posts along the border, which were launched shortly after the White House rolled out the 21-day ceasefire effort.

According to the White House readout of today’s calls, Biden stressed “the need to minimize harm to civilians, in particular in the densely populated areas of Beirut,” where Israel has been conducting airstrikes largely targeting the Dahiyeh Hezbollah stronghold.

The purpose of the call, as far as Netanyahu was concerned, was to discuss Israel’s response to the Iranian missile attack earlier this month.

But the White House readout doesn’t offer any new information on this topic, saying that Biden “affirmed his ironclad commitment to Israel’s security [and] condemned unequivocally” the Iranian missile attack.

Biden and Netanyahu “discussed the urgent need to renew diplomacy to release the hostages held by Hamas,” the US readout adds.

Biden also raised “the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the imperative to restore access to the north, including by reinvigorating the corridor from Jordan immediately.”

Recent days have seen an uptick in reports from humanitarian agencies that they have been unable to access and provide aid to northern Gaza where Israel has re-intensified military operations.

Biden and Netanyahu “agreed to remain in close contact over the coming days both directly and through their national security teams,” the US readout adds, after their first call in nearly 50 days.

Netanyahu’s office hasn’t regularly issued readouts on such calls, and has also yet to do so this time.