President Biden said he had a very direct call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and expressed concerns over escalation in the Middle East.
On the Thursday call, which Vice President Harris also joined, Biden stressed that the need for securing a cease-fire deal with the prime minister.
“I’m very concerned about it,” Biden said when asked of escalation in the region.
“I had a very direct meeting with prime minister … very direct. We have the basis for a cease-fire. They should move on it, and they should move on it now,” he added while on the Joint Base Andrews tarmac late Thursday night, where he was meeting the Americans released from Russia.
Israel faces threats from Iran after the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, a top Hamas leader, who was killed on Wednesday while visiting Tehran for the inauguration of Iran’s new president. Iran has vowed to seek revenge, sparking concerns that the region will be plunged into an all-out war.
Israel has not claimed responsibility for the death, but hours after it made the news, Netanyahu gave defiant remarks and said Israel is achieving its goals.
The White House on Wednesday said Israeli strikes in Lebanon and Iran are not helpful while they seek a cease-fire deal to end the conflict.
White House national security communications adviser John Kirby said the recent events complicate the pending deal that aims to end the war in Gaza. Biden and Harris also discussed the deal with Netanyahu while he was in Washington last week.