WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden has issued directives to his national security team to remain in touch with regional leaders after a surprise attack by Hamas on Israel and Israeli military airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, western media reported on Saturday.
Hamas launched on Saturday a surprise attack, saying its multifront attack was in reply to the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque and increased settler violence. The group said it fired rockets and also arrested many Israelis. Health officials in Gaza said that 232 Palestinians have been martyred in the Israeli airstrikes, while Israel said that 250 Israelis have been killed in an escalation with Hamas.
Palestine-Israel Tensions
Speaking at a news conference from the White House, President Biden said he spoke with Congressmen, and also issued directives to his security team to remain in contact with Palestinian Authority, Israel and regional countries. He added that he also directed his team to remain in constant contact with European partners.
The United Nations Security Council convened an emergency meeting on Sunday to address the escalating violence in the Middle East, following a surprise attack by Hamas on Israel and Israeli military airstrikes in the Gaza Strip that martyred 232 Palestinians.
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In a statement, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas strongly affirmed the Palestinian people’s right to self-defense in the face of ongoing Israeli attacks. The United Nations Security Council will gather at 3:00 pm local time (1900 GMT) on Sunday to discuss “the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question,” according to an official statement released on Saturday. The international community is closely monitoring the crisis, with hopes of diplomatic efforts to quell the escalating violence and facilitate dialogue between the conflicting parties.
