Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by telephone on Monday with US President Joe Biden and told him he was determined to see Operation Guardian of the Walls through and hit Hamas hard.
The Prime Minister’s Office stated that Netanyahu “expressed appreciation for the president’s consistent support for Israel’s right to defend itself,” and told Biden that he “was determined to complete the operation’s goal of restoring security to Israeli citizens.”
The two have spoken several times in recent days. Biden is reportedly pushing for a ceasefire while Netanyahu is apparently unwavering on his determination to complete the objectives set forth by the IDF in Operation Guardian of the Walls.
The State Department stated Wednesday morning that Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Hady Amr continued his consultations on behalf of Secretary of State Tony Blinken to “restore calm and put an end to the violence.”
He met with Palestinian Authority head Mahmoud Abbas, PA prime Minister Mouhamad Shtayyeh, and other PA officials.
He met with Israeli officials on Sunday, with no significant results.
Netanyahu stated Monday night after an assessment that “the directive is to continue striking at the terrorist targets. The IDF is doing this very well. We will continue to take whatever action necessary to restore quiet and security to all residents of Israel.”
In the meantime, Israel is receiving broad support from countries around the world.
Netanyahu spoke on Monday night with German Chancellor Angela Merkel who reiterated her “unreserved support for Israel’s right to defend itself.”
Netanyahu emphasized that “Hamas is committing a double war crime by firing missiles from inside civilian populations and by using civilians in Gaza as human shields.”
On Sunday night, Netanyahu spoke to Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and thanked him for “his country’s support of Israel’s right to self-defense in light of the terrorist organizations’ firing at Israel’s cities.”
Netanyahu noted that “Israel would continue to strike at Hamas and Islamic Jihad in order to restore the quiet and security to the citizens of Israel.”
Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, and other countries flew Israeli flags on their government buildings in solidarity of the Jewish state.