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Israel-Gaza violence: Joe Biden calls for ceasefire Israel-Gaza violence: Joe Biden calls for ceasefire
(about 1 hour later)
Israeli air strikes bombard Gaza StripIsraeli air strikes bombard Gaza Strip
US President Joe Biden has voiced his support for a ceasefire after eight days of violence between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza.US President Joe Biden has voiced his support for a ceasefire after eight days of violence between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza.
Mr Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the US was working with Egypt and other countries on halting hostilities.Mr Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the US was working with Egypt and other countries on halting hostilities.
But the US again blocked a UN Security Council statement calling for a cessation of violence.But the US again blocked a UN Security Council statement calling for a cessation of violence.
The conflict is now in its second week, with little sign of ending.The conflict is now in its second week, with little sign of ending.
At least 212 people, including 61 children, have died in Gaza, and 10, including two children, in Israel. Israel conducted further air strikes on Gaza early on Tuesday. Its army said dozens of rockets were fired into its territory overnight.
Israel says most of those killed in Gaza are militants and that any civilian deaths are unintentional.
But Hamas, the militant group that runs the territory, disputes this.
The Israel-Palestinian conflict explainedThe Israel-Palestinian conflict explained
The claims fact-checkedThe claims fact-checked
According to a White House statement, Mr Biden "encouraged Israel to make every effort to ensure the protection of innocent civilians". At least 212 people, including 61 children, have now died in Gaza, and 10, including two children, in Israel.
Israel says most of those killed in Gaza are militants and that any civilian deaths are unintentional.
But Hamas, the militant group that runs the territory, disputes this.
According to a White House statement on Monday, Mr Biden "encouraged Israel to make every effort to ensure the protection of innocent civilians".
"The two leaders discussed progress in Israel's military operations against Hamas and other terrorist groups in Gaza," it added."The two leaders discussed progress in Israel's military operations against Hamas and other terrorist groups in Gaza," it added.
President Biden "expressed his support for a ceasefire and discussed US engagement with Egypt and other partners towards that end", it said.President Biden "expressed his support for a ceasefire and discussed US engagement with Egypt and other partners towards that end", it said.
The violence has prompted increasing concern internationally.The violence has prompted increasing concern internationally.
World leaders and humanitarian organisations have called for measures to prevent the deaths of residents and the chaos wrought by the destruction of buildings and infrastructure.World leaders and humanitarian organisations have called for measures to prevent the deaths of residents and the chaos wrought by the destruction of buildings and infrastructure.
Israel should try to protect innocent civilians, Mr Biden saidIsrael should try to protect innocent civilians, Mr Biden said
The US has - for the third time - blocked efforts at the UN Security Council to issue a statement calling on Israel to stop its military offensive, stressing instead its own diplomatic efforts. The US - which is one of Israel's strongest allies - has once again blocked efforts at the UN Security Council to issue a statement calling on Israel to stop its military offensive, stressing instead its own diplomatic efforts.
"Our calculation at this point is that having those conversations behind the scenes ... is the most constructive approach we can take," White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters. "Our calculation at this point is that having those conversations behind the scenes... is the most constructive approach we can take," White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters.
The UN Security Council is due to hold its fourth emergency meeting on the violence on Tuesday.
Biden follows familiar patternBiden follows familiar pattern
Joe Biden is a traditional pro-Israel Democrat. That's different from Donald Trump who actually changed US policy to adopt Israel's positions in its conflict with the Arabs. Biden has quietly begun to reverse some, although not all, of that.Joe Biden is a traditional pro-Israel Democrat. That's different from Donald Trump who actually changed US policy to adopt Israel's positions in its conflict with the Arabs. Biden has quietly begun to reverse some, although not all, of that.
But when it comes to air wars with Palestinian militants, he is following a familiar pattern. All US administrations strongly support Israel's right to defend itself against rocket fire.But when it comes to air wars with Palestinian militants, he is following a familiar pattern. All US administrations strongly support Israel's right to defend itself against rocket fire.
Analysts say in the initial phase they generally refrain from public criticism of Israeli air strikes, including at the United Nations, apparently allowing a window of time for Israel to take out militant leaders and infrastructure. However, if the conflict goes on and civilian deaths mount, sometimes they become more critical and start pressing Israel to wind down its military campaign.Analysts say in the initial phase they generally refrain from public criticism of Israeli air strikes, including at the United Nations, apparently allowing a window of time for Israel to take out militant leaders and infrastructure. However, if the conflict goes on and civilian deaths mount, sometimes they become more critical and start pressing Israel to wind down its military campaign.
In this case Hamas' firepower has been more sustained and intense than before. But President Biden has now publicly expressed support for a ceasefire in his call with the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and discussed with him "progress in Israel's military operations against Hamas."In this case Hamas' firepower has been more sustained and intense than before. But President Biden has now publicly expressed support for a ceasefire in his call with the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and discussed with him "progress in Israel's military operations against Hamas."
So perhaps this is the beginning of new phase.So perhaps this is the beginning of new phase.
The United Nations has also expressed concerns about the damage to infrastructure in the already impoverished Gaza Strip, home to two million people. It said that 40 schools and four hospitals had been "completely or partially destroyed" in recent days. It also warned that fuel supplies there were running out, threatening basic services.The United Nations has also expressed concerns about the damage to infrastructure in the already impoverished Gaza Strip, home to two million people. It said that 40 schools and four hospitals had been "completely or partially destroyed" in recent days. It also warned that fuel supplies there were running out, threatening basic services.
Israel continued to pummel Gaza with air strikes on Monday
The World Health Organization's emergencies chief, Dr Mike Ryan, said all attacks on healthcare needed to stop immediately.The World Health Organization's emergencies chief, Dr Mike Ryan, said all attacks on healthcare needed to stop immediately.
The outbreak of violence began after weeks of rising Israeli-Palestinian tension in occupied East Jerusalem that culminated in clashes at a holy site revered by both Muslims and Jews. Hamas, which controls Gaza, began firing rockets after warning Israel to withdraw from the site, triggering retaliatory air strikes.The outbreak of violence began after weeks of rising Israeli-Palestinian tension in occupied East Jerusalem that culminated in clashes at a holy site revered by both Muslims and Jews. Hamas, which controls Gaza, began firing rockets after warning Israel to withdraw from the site, triggering retaliatory air strikes.
What is the latest on the ground? What's happening on the ground?
Israel continued to pummel Gaza with air strikes overnight after Palestinian militants launched rockets at Israeli cities on Monday. Israeli leaders have also, again, vowed to keep up their campaign. The Israeli military conducted further air strikes on Tuesday and, shortly after dawn, two buildings in Gaza City were destroyed.
The armed wing of Hamas promised more rockets in return. A spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said another 15km (nine miles) of Hamas tunnels had been destroyed in the latest operation.
Israelis gather to watch the Iron Dome missile defence system intercepting rockets from the Gaza Strip There were no immediate reports of casualties.
Sirens sounded again on Monday night in Israel, with rockets entering in the south and north, close to the Lebanese border. Buildings in Gaza were destroyed in Israeli air strikes early on Tuesday
The Israeli army said it launched artillery towards Lebanon on Monday in response to rocket fire that failed to hit the Jewish state. Similar strikes before dawn on Monday also damaged roads, power lines and houses. At least seven Palestinians were killed in the bombing.
Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said it thwarted 160 "terrorist operatives" overnight and destroyed 15 kilometres of Hamas tunnels in Gaza Strip. Mohammad Abu Rayya, a paediatrician in Gaza, told the BBC of the devastation on the ground there. "We don't have a morgue here big enough for the killed and the dead bodies," he said.
At least seven Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza on Monday by the evening. "We need at least 10 years more to build what has been damaged here in Gaza," he added.
What is Hamas?What is Hamas?
How Israel's Iron Dome missile shield worksHow Israel's Iron Dome missile shield works
Mohammad Abu Rayya, a paediatrician in Gaza, told the BBC of the devastation on the ground there.
"We don't have a morgue here big enough for the killed and the dead bodies," he said.
"The situation in Gaza is becoming worse and worse, the system is being collapsed and stretched because also we are complaining and suffering from the (lack of) fuel," he added.
"We need at least 10 years more to build what has been damaged here in Gaza," he said.
The only coronavirus-testing laboratory in Gaza was knocked out on Monday. The rate of positive Covid-19 tests in Gaza has been 28% - one of the highest in the world.
An Israeli tech executive and father of three, Eitan Singer, told the BBC: "It is not easy - seven days in a row when we go to sleep and almost every evening, every night, we get the kids out of bed, run to shelters. We have 30 seconds to 60 seconds to find a shelter."
Israel said more than 3,000 rockets had been fired into the country over the past week, calling it an unprecedented number.
The country's Iron Dome defence system is said to have intercepted 90% of the rockets.
'We cannot sleep': Mothers fear for children'We cannot sleep': Mothers fear for children
How Israel's Iron Dome missile shield works Palestinian militants fired rockets into Israel later on Tuesday morning. It set off warning sirens in cities in the south, sending people running for shelters.
Israeli emergency services have reported an overall total of 311 injuries, six of them severe. But the rocket fire from Gaza appeared to be less frequent that in previous nights, according to a Reuters correspondent in the region.
One person has also died of wounds sustained during riots in Israel. Clashes between Arab Israelis and Jewish citizens have left an additional 193 people injured, 10 seriously. Israel has vowed to continue its air strikes. On Monday, it said more than 3,000 rockets had been fired into the country over the past week.
The country's Iron Dome defence system is said to have intercepted 90% of the rockets. Israeli emergency services have reported an overall total of 311 injuries, six of them severe.
An Israeli tech executive and father of three, Eitan Singer, told the BBC: "It is not easy - seven days in a row when we go to sleep and almost every evening, every night, we get the kids out of bed, run to shelters. We have 30 seconds to 60 seconds to find a shelter."