Telephone communication with the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the American president had on Sunday Joe Biden. An official announcement from the White House is awaited.

During his visit to Israel earlier this week, the American president confirmed the “iron” commitment of the US to Israel amid its conflict with Hamas.

Biden and the vice president of the USA Kamala Harris they were also briefed by their national security team about the latest developments in Gaza.

Communication with Pope Francis

US President Joe Biden also had a telephone conversation with him Pope Francis on developments in Israel and Gaza.

In his conversation with Pope Francis, Biden condemned the Hamas attack and discussed his efforts to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. The two men “discussed the need to prevent escalation in the region and work for a lasting peace in the Middle East.”

According to the Press Office of the Holy See, the conversation lasted about 20 minutes.

The Pope and the President spoke about “conflict situations in the world and the need to identify paths to peace”.

Calls for peace

Earlier on Sunday, Pope Francis renewed his calls for peace and restraint in the war in the Holy Land.

“I am very anxious, sorrowful,” he said in the Angelus’ prayer.

“I pray and am close to all those who are suffering, the hostages, the wounded, the victims and their families,” he said.

The Pontiff expressed his regret at the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza and the explosions at the Anglican hospital and Greek Orthodox parish (s.s. Agios Porphyrios).

“I renew my appeal to open spaces, for humanitarian aid to continue to arrive and for the hostages to be released.”

He also recalled Russia’s ongoing war in “martyrdom Ukraine.”

The war, any war there is in the world – I also think of the martyred Ukraine – continued the Pope, it’s a defeat. War is always a defeat, it is a destruction of human brotherhood. Brothers, stop! Stop!