After a month-long silence, President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu finally spoke Monday, amid heightening tensions between the two leaders over Israel's handling of its war with Hamas.
"President Biden spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel to discuss the latest developments in Israel and Gaza, including the situation in Rafah and efforts to surge humanitarian assistance to Gaza," the White House said.
This is the first time the two leaders have communicated since the highest-ranking Jewish official in US history, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, expressed the necessity to replace Netanyahu, calling for new elections.
The remarks came as a surprise, considering Schumer and Netanyahu's close relationship. However, from the Senate floor, Schumer declared Netanyahu an obstacle to peace in the Middle East, saying he has "lost his way" by putting his political survival ahead of the best interests of Israel.
Biden agreed with Schumer's comments, noting it was a "good speech." To avoid any miscommunication, the White House later stated Biden was not calling for new elections or Netanyahu's replacement.
"That's going to be up for the Israeli people to decide," John Kirby, the White House spokesman for national security issues, told reporters on Friday.
One of the most contentious issues between Biden and Netanyahu is the future-- if any, of Rafah. Located on Gaza's 7.5-mile border with Egypt, Rafah is the only crossing that is not controlled by Israel.
On Sunday, Netanyahu announced his intention to move forth with a military campaign against Rafah, despite the United States and other Israeli allies' advice to heed action against the southern Gaza Strip city.
More than one million Palestinians displaced by the war have fled to Rafah, reported USA TODAY.
