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| Biden tells Netanyahu he ‘expects significant de-escalation today on path to ceasefire’ – live | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| US president speaks to Israeli PM and has ‘detailed discussion on the state of events in Gaza’ – follow all the day’s politics news | |
| Deputy White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre held a short press gaggle aboard Air Force One moments ago. | |
| Jean-Pierre reiterated the readout from Joe Biden’s call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today, during which the US president expressed his expectation for an immediate de-escalation and pathway to ceasefire in Gaza. | |
| Asked if Netanyahu agreed with Biden’s comments, Jean-Pierre did not answer directly. | |
| Biden will soon deliver the keynote address at the US Coast Guard Academy’s 140th Commencement Exercises, so stay tuned. | |
| The Guardian’s Martin Chulov and Julian Borger and agencies report: | |
| Egypt has urged a brokered end to the fighting between Israel and militants in Gaza, and France has called for a UN security council resolution on the violence, as international pressure for a ceasefire intensifies. | |
| Signs are emerging that a ceasefire may be within sight, with the Egyptian effort gaining momentum among factions in Gaza, and the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, reported by Israeli media to have told officials in the south of the country that the fighting could end “within several days”. | |
| Jordan, too, has lobbied intensively for a cessation of violence and has joined a French push at the UN to present a draft resolution that safeguards urgent humanitarian relief. The US would have to use its veto power to block the resolution, something the Biden administration would be reluctant to do. | |
| Israeli jets on Wednesday continued to pound what officials say is an extensive tunnel network under central Gaza used by Hamas to move fighters and weapons. The al-Rimal neighbourhood was also targeted and residents reported that several homes had been been destroyed. | |
| Israel claimed it had twice tried to kill Hamas military commander, Mohammed Deif, but the elusive leader – who had previously escaped many other assassination attempts – had escaped. | |
| Joe Biden spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today as Israeli forces and Hamas continued to exchange attacks in Gaza. | |
| “The two leaders had a detailed discussion on the state of events in Gaza, Israel’s progress in degrading the capabilities of Hamas and other terrorist elements, and ongoing diplomatic efforts by regional governments and the United States,” the White House said in a readout of the call. | |
| “The President conveyed to the Prime Minister that he expected a significant de-escalation today on the path to a ceasefire.” | |
| Biden’s comments are noteworthy given that the US president merely indicated his support for a ceasefire in his conversation with Netanyahu on Monday. | |
| After that Monday conversation, progressives criticized Biden for not demanding an immediate end to the violence, which has already killed more than 200 people, most of them Palestinian. | |
| Although most House Republicans are expected to vote against the January 6 commission bill, as many as 50 members of the GOP caucus may support the legislation, according to Punchbowl News. | Although most House Republicans are expected to vote against the January 6 commission bill, as many as 50 members of the GOP caucus may support the legislation, according to Punchbowl News. |
| It should also be noted that there are 31 sponsors of a separate Republican bill to form a January 6 commission, and that legislation looks very similar to the compromise proposal crafted by Democrat Bennie Thompson and Republican John Katko. | It should also be noted that there are 31 sponsors of a separate Republican bill to form a January 6 commission, and that legislation looks very similar to the compromise proposal crafted by Democrat Bennie Thompson and Republican John Katko. |
| Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer has pledged to put the January 6 commission bill on the Senate floor for a vote, despite Republican opposition. | Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer has pledged to put the January 6 commission bill on the Senate floor for a vote, despite Republican opposition. |
| “I will put the January 6 Commission legislation on the floor of the Senate for a vote, period,” the Democratic leader said. “Republicans can let their constituents know, are they on the side of truth or do they want to cover up for the insurrectionists and for Donald Trump?” | “I will put the January 6 Commission legislation on the floor of the Senate for a vote, period,” the Democratic leader said. “Republicans can let their constituents know, are they on the side of truth or do they want to cover up for the insurrectionists and for Donald Trump?” |
| Schumer also argued that House minority leader Kevin McCarthy’s opposition to the bill, even after Republican congressman John Katko helped craft the final version of the legislation, demonstrated the difficulties of working with Republicans. | Schumer also argued that House minority leader Kevin McCarthy’s opposition to the bill, even after Republican congressman John Katko helped craft the final version of the legislation, demonstrated the difficulties of working with Republicans. |
| “If the Republican leaders are just going to throw their lead negotiators under the bus, why do they even participate in negotiations at all?” Schumer asked. | “If the Republican leaders are just going to throw their lead negotiators under the bus, why do they even participate in negotiations at all?” Schumer asked. |
| The Guardian’s Martin Pengelly, Coral Murphy Marcos and agencies report: | The Guardian’s Martin Pengelly, Coral Murphy Marcos and agencies report: |
| House minority leader Kevin McCarthy has long said the 6 January commission should also investigate leftwing groups that protested against police violence after the murder of George Floyd. | House minority leader Kevin McCarthy has long said the 6 January commission should also investigate leftwing groups that protested against police violence after the murder of George Floyd. |
| House speaker Nancy Pelosi flatly rejected that approach, seeking to focus the panel on 6 January and form it along the lines of the bipartisan and independent 9/11 commission, which investigated the terror attacks in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania. | House speaker Nancy Pelosi flatly rejected that approach, seeking to focus the panel on 6 January and form it along the lines of the bipartisan and independent 9/11 commission, which investigated the terror attacks in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania. |
| The commission would be split evenly between Democratic and Republican appointees, none of them serving government officials, with agreement needed for subpoenas to be issued. | The commission would be split evenly between Democratic and Republican appointees, none of them serving government officials, with agreement needed for subpoenas to be issued. |
| McCarthy said he supported that federal effort to hold attackers accountable but claimed the proposed commission could interfere with such work. | McCarthy said he supported that federal effort to hold attackers accountable but claimed the proposed commission could interfere with such work. |
| Pelosi subsequently told reporters that she was disappointed but not surprised by the “cowardice” shown by some Republicans who she said did “not to want to find the truth”. | Pelosi subsequently told reporters that she was disappointed but not surprised by the “cowardice” shown by some Republicans who she said did “not to want to find the truth”. |
| Greetings from Washington, live blog readers. | Greetings from Washington, live blog readers. |
| Later today, the House is expected to pass a bill that would establish a September 11-style commission to study the Capitol insurrection. | Later today, the House is expected to pass a bill that would establish a September 11-style commission to study the Capitol insurrection. |
| The legislation will likely pass without much Republican support, given that House minority leader Kevin McCarthy announced yesterday he will vote against the bill. | The legislation will likely pass without much Republican support, given that House minority leader Kevin McCarthy announced yesterday he will vote against the bill. |
| McCarthy’s announcement came three days after Republican congressman John Katko and Democrat Bennie Thompson, the ranking member and chairman of the House homeland security commission, said they had reached a deal on the bill. | McCarthy’s announcement came three days after Republican congressman John Katko and Democrat Bennie Thompson, the ranking member and chairman of the House homeland security commission, said they had reached a deal on the bill. |
| Even though Katko was able to secure many of the Republican requests for the commission, McCarthy still claimed the final bill was insufficient to garner his support. | Even though Katko was able to secure many of the Republican requests for the commission, McCarthy still claimed the final bill was insufficient to garner his support. |
| The Republican leader’s stance underscores how eager many members of the party are to move on from the January 6 attack, which was carried out by a group of Donald Trump’s supporters and resulted in five deaths. | The Republican leader’s stance underscores how eager many members of the party are to move on from the January 6 attack, which was carried out by a group of Donald Trump’s supporters and resulted in five deaths. |
| That dynamic could make it difficult to get the bill through the evenly divided Senate, where it will need 60 votes to overcome a filibuster. | That dynamic could make it difficult to get the bill through the evenly divided Senate, where it will need 60 votes to overcome a filibuster. |
| The blog will have more details on the vote coming up, so stay tuned. | The blog will have more details on the vote coming up, so stay tuned. |