President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke on Monday, their first interaction in more than a month, as the divide has grown between allies over food crisis in Gaza, conduct of war, according to the White House🦋.
The call comes after Republicans in Washington and Israeli officials were quick to express outrage after🐼 Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer sharply criticised Netanyahu's handling of the war in Gaza and called for Israel to hold new eleꦓctions.
They accused the Democratic leader of breaking theꦐ unwritten rule against interfering in a close ally's electoral politics.
Biden hasn't endorsed Schumer's cꦆall for election but said he thought he gave a “good speech” that refle♛cted the concerns of many Americans.
The White House has been sceptical of Netanyahu's plan of carrying out an operation in the southern city of Rafah, to which more than 🍸a 1🐼 million displaced Palestinians have fled, as Israel looks to eliminate Hamas following Hamas' deadly Oct 7 attack.
Biden administration officials have warned that they would not support such an operation without the Israelis presenting a cred🦋ible plan to ensure the safety ܫof innocent Palestinian civilians.
Israel has yet to pre▨sent such a plan, according to White House officials.
