227 Palestinians martyred, Israeli PM defies calls for de-escalation

The death toll comes after four Palestinian civilians, including a 2-year-old child, were killed.

(Dunya News) – At least 227 Palestinians have been martyred, including 64 children and 38 women, in Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip since May 10 as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defied calls by US President Joe Biden for a significant de-escalation in Gaza on Wednesday.

A ministry statement said 1,620 people have also been injured by the onslaught. The updated death toll comes after four Palestinian civilians, including a 2-year-old child, were killed when Israeli fighter jets bombed a house in the central Gaza Strip.

Earlier Wednesday, three Palestinians, including a journalist, were killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City. Twelve people have also been killed in Palestinian rocket fire from the Gaza Strip.

On the other hand, Israeli PM defied call by US President Joe Biden for a significant de-escalation in Gaza today on the path to a truce. Netanyahu said after the phone call with Biden that he was “determined” to continue bombarding Gaza until Israel’s “aim is met”.

US President Joe Biden told Israel s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he expects a "significant" reduction in the military confrontation with Palestinians, the White House said.

"The president conveyed to the prime minister that he expected a significant de-escalation today on the path to a ceasefire," according to a statement released after what the White House said was the two leaders  fourth call since the crisis began.

The statement marked a sharpening of public tone from the White House toward the close US ally.

However, there was no mention of how Biden defined "significant" in his call to tune down the bombing of Gaza, which Israel says is directed at the Hamas militant group.

White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre also would not say what response there would be if no change occurred on Wednesday.

Egyptian negotiators have also been working to halt the fighting, and an Egyptian diplomat said top officials were waiting for Israel’s response to a cease-fire offer. The diplomat spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations. Meanwhile, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said he would fly to the region Thursday for talks with Israelis and Palestinians.

UN aid convoy

UN aid convoy was still being held up at the Karam Abu Salim border crossing, more than 24 hours after Israel re-shut the border into Gaza that it briefly opened for aid deliveries.

“The UN is frustrated with the Israelis. The Israelis are simply not opening the border because they say the barrier isn’t secure and they can’t secure that convoy into the Gaza Strip,” he said.

“Once again, it’s one of these things [that is] incredibly frustrating on all sides. If there was a breakthrough, people would perhaps be talking louder about a ceasefire, some potential cessation of hostilities but that no longer seems to be something that’s being talked about.”

“In fact, we’ve heard very hard words from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who is saying effectively all options are on the table including the reoccupation of Gaza and that’s not something most people in Israel are taking seriously.”

“It just goes to show the kind of language and mood the Israelis are in and that’s why that aid, 24 hours later, is still stuck at that barrier crossing.”

France hopeful of UN resolution

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said he was hopeful a UN resolution calling for a ceasefire between Israel and Palestinians would pass at the Security Council and that discussions were being held to persuade Washington.

Le Drian told a parliamentary committee there was a chance of success, but added: “It’s not done yet.”

Iran supports Palestinians’

Iran supports Palestinians’ fight against Israel, the head of the elite Iranian Revolutionary Guards said in a televised speech. “Tehran backs the Palestinians’ fight against the Zionist regime (Israel),” Hossein Salami said. “The Palestinians have emerged as a missile-equipped nation.”

The fighting, the worst since a 2014 war between Israel and Hamas, has ignited protests around the world and inspired Palestinians in Israel and the occupied territories to call a general strike Tuesday. It was a rare collective action that spanned boundaries central to decades of failed peace efforts. Israel captured the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza in the 1967 Mideast war, territories the Palestinians want for their future state.

Recent tensions that started in East Jerusalem during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan spread to Gaza as a result of Israeli assaults on worshippers at the flashpoint Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and the neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah.

Israel occupied East Jerusalem, where Al-Aqsa is located, during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. In 1980 it annexed the entire city, a move never recognized by the international community.