Mr. Netanyahu told Mr. Biden that Israel is committed to achieving all of the war’s objectives

Israel has recently faced increasing international pressure to limit its campaign in the Gaza Strip.

In their first conversation in more than a month, as Biden grew more vocal regarding the war’s impact on civilians, Netanyahu emphasized Israel’s “commitment to achieving all of the war’s objectives,” the Israeli prime minister said in a statement.

Mr. Netanyahu listed the following goals: the elimination of Hamas, the release of all hostages and “ensuring that Gaza never poses a threat to Israel.”

He also pointed to the fact that “essential humanitarian aid is being provided that helps to achieve these goals.”

Mr. Biden told the Israeli prime minister that he was deeply concerned regarding Israel’s plans to launch a ground operation in the Rafah area of ​​the Gaza Strip, adding that the attack would be a “mistake,” the White House said.

Mr. Netanyahu also agreed to Mr. Biden’s request to send a delegation of senior Israeli officials to Washington to discuss plans and a possible “alternative approach,” national security adviser Jake Sullivan said.

Netanyahu and Biden last spoke on February 15.

Earlier, the White House said that “President Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and discussed the latest developments in Israel and the Gaza Strip, including the situation in Rafah and efforts to increase humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.”

Netanyahu is rejecting Washington’s pressure and recently said Israel would continue with a plan to attack the southern Gaza city of Rafah to crush Hamas.

Mr Biden has warned that the operation in Rafah would not happen without a “credible” plan to protect more than a million civilians.

Israeli troops on Monday launched an operation around the al-Shifa hospital, where tens of thousands of Palestinians displaced by the war have taken refuge, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

Israel said 20 militants were killed there.

An unprecedented attack by Hamas on October 7 in Israel killed regarding 1,160 people, mostly civilians, according to official figures.

Hamas also took regarding 250 hostages, of which Israel knows regarding 130 are still in the Gaza Strip, including 33 dead hostages.

After vowing to destroy Hamas, Israel launched a massive military offensive that killed at least 31,726 people, mostly women and children, in the besieged enclave, according to the Hamas-ruled territory’s Health Ministry.