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President Biden calls for immediate Gaza ceasefire in phone conversation with Israeli PM Netanyahu – JURIST

US President Joe Biden called for an immediate ceasefire to protect civilians and improve humanitarian conditions in Gaza on Thursday.A White House readout of a phone call Biden had with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said:He made clear the need for Israel to announce and implement a series of specific, concrete, and measurable steps to address civilian harm, humanitarian suffering, and the safety of aid workers. He made clear that U.S. policy with respect to Gaza will be determined by our assessment of Israel’s immediate action on these steps. He underscored that an immediate ceasefire is essential to stabilize and improve the humanitarian situation and protect innocent civilians, and he urged the Prime Minister to empower his negotiators to conclude a deal without delay to bring the hostages homeIn a press briefing following the announcement, White House national security spokesman Admiral John Kirby declined to explain what policy options the US was considering in the event Israel did not make “concrete” and “tangible” changes. He stated the US expected significant changes — such as the opening of border crossings and free movement of humanitarian aid trucks — within “hours and days.”The announcement came in the aftermath of the killing of seven humanitarian aid workers by Israeli strikes. The strikes, the victims of which included citizens of Australia, Poland, and the UK, as well as a US-Canadian citizen, reportedly spurred Israel to announce it would adjust its war tactics in Gaza.Israel’s war against Hamas, waged in the aftermath of the Oct. 7, 2023 terror attacks, has faced mounting pressure in recent months. In January, South Africa accused Israel of genocide against the people of Gaza. Last week, UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories Francesca Albanese released a scathing report echoing these claims, leading her to conclude: “The only reasonable inference that can be drawn from the unveiling of this policy is an Israeli state policy of genocidal violence toward the Palestinian people in Gaza.”Though wartime casualties are notoriously difficult to gauge, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that as of Apr. 3, 2024, 32,975 Palestinian fatalities had been reported, including 13,000 children. During the same period, some 1,200 Israeli fatalities were reported, including at least 33 children.