By: Ollus Ndomu
U.S. President Joe Biden has mounted a ceasefire pressure on his Israeli counterpart, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Speaking Wednesday on a phone call, Biden has called for a significant de-escalation of the conflict between Israeli and Palestinian militants, Hamas in Gaza. The ongoing conflict which started on May 10, over threatened evictions of several thousand of Palestinian families in East Jerusalem has so far killed 227 Palestinians and 12 Israeli nationals.
As international condemnation gather against Israeli, which is reportedly preparing for more days of fighting, the White House had until today, Wednesday, May 19, been under pressure for failing to publicly condemn Israeli offensive against Palestinian civilians.
Biden who avoided the public from last week has lifted the shroud of silence on the Israeli-Palestinian tensions now turned into a full-blown conflict. The US president has joined international calls for a ceasefire after his government shot down the UN ceasefire vote earlier last week.
Meanwhile, fire exchange and loss of life has continued on the middle east with Israeli airstrikes killing six more civilians on Wednesday, prompting Egypt, France and Jordan to host a meeting to plan for a possible peace deal between the parties.
