Bidens calls Israel's Netanyahu, Palestine President Abbas

Amid escalating tension in Gaza after the Hamas attacks against Israel US President Joe Biden on Saturday called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority as the US began moving USS Dwight D Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group CSG to the Eastern MediterraneanIn his call with Abbas Biden condemned Hamas brutal attacks on Israel and reiterated that the militant group does not stand for the Palestinian peoples right to dignity and selfdetermination the White House said Biden in his call with Netanyahu updated him on US military support and reiterated his warning against anyone seeking to expand the conflict according to a readout of the callThis afternoon President Biden spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu to reiterate unwavering US support for Israel President Biden updated Prime Minister Netanyahu on US military support and reiterated his warning against anyone seeking to expand the conflict the White House said Biden discussed with Netanyahu the US coordination with the United Nations Egypt Jordan Israel and others in the region to ensure innocent civilians have access to water food and medical care Biden affirmed his support for all efforts to protect civilians it saidAs more information comes to light about Hamas brutal atrocities committed over the past week Biden reiterated the need for all countries to unequivocally condemn Hamas as a terrorist organization that does not represent the aspirations of the Palestinian people the White House said Biden spoke to Abbas and condemned the attacks by Hamas on IsraelAlso read Maharashtra 12 dead 23 injured as minibus hits container on Samruddhi ExpresswayAbbas briefed Biden on his engagement in the region and his efforts to bring urgently needed humanitarian assistance to Palestinian people particularly in Gaza Biden offered Abbas and the Palestinian Authority his full support for these important and ongoing efforts the White House said Biden discussed with Abbas US efforts to work with the United Nations Egypt Jordan Israel and others to ensure humanitarian supplies reach civilians in GazaFinally President Biden detailed US efforts to coordinate with partners to prevent the conflict from widening and the two leaders discussed the need to preserve stability in the West Bank and the broader region it said The United States has intensified its global engagement amid an imminent Israeli plan to send its foot soldiers to Gaza Meanwhile the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on SaturdayAs part of the administrations intensive diplomatic engagements to stand with Israel and condemn the terrorist attacks by Hamas the Secretary reiterated US support for Israels right to defend itself and called for an immediate cessation of Hamas attacks and the release of all hostages the State Department saidDuring the call Blinken also discussed the importance of maintaining stability in the region and discouraging other parties from entering the conflict US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Saturday directed the USS Dwight D Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group CSG to begin moving to the Eastern MediterraneanAs part of our effort to deter hostile actions against Israel or any efforts toward widening this war following Hamass attack on Israel the Strike Group includes the guidedmissile cruiser USS Philippine Sea CG 58 guidedmissile destroyers USS Gravely DDG 107 and USS Mason DDG 87 and Carrier Air Wing 3 with nine aircraft squadrons and embarked headquarters staffs Austin saidThe Eisenhower CSG will join the USS Gerald R Ford Carrier Strike Group which arrived earlier this week The Ford CSG includes the USS Normandy USS Thomas Hudner USS Ramage USS Carney and USS Roosevelt Earlier in the week the US Air Force announced deployment to the region of squadrons of F15 F16 and A10 fighter aircraft he saidThe increases to US force posture signal the United States ironclad commitment to Israels security and our resolve to deter any state or nonstate actor seeking to escalate this war Austin said Austin spoke with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant to continue consultations on Israels response to Hamas attacks following his visit to Israel a day earlier During the call he underscored the United States unwavering commitment to Israels securityDuring the call he discussed the importance of adhering to the law of war including civilian protection obligations and addressing the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza while Israel continues its operations to restore security Finally he discussed Hamas abhorrent taking of civilian hostages the Pentagon said in a readout of the callBlinken who is currently in the Middle East met with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Riyadh on Saturday He highlighted the United States unwavering focus on halting the attacks by Hamas against Israel The two discussed continued engagement with regional partners to prevent the spread of conflict in the region and their shared commitment to taking steps to help protect civiliansThey also resolved to continue to work together to end the devastating conflict in Sudan and secure a lasting peace in Yemen through a UNmediated YemeniYemeni peace process said a readout of the call Later in the day he also met UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi to discuss the terrorist attacks on IsraelThe Secretary expressed appreciation for the UAEs clear condemnation of Hamas heinous attacks on Israeli civilians and continued diplomatic engagement to prevent the spread of conflict said a readout of the call Blinken and Sheikh Mohammed also discussed their shared commitment to building a more integrated secure and prosperous region and reaffirmed the importance of the strategic partnership between the United States and the United Arab Emirates it saidThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its 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