US President Biden Holds Discussions with Key Western Leaders; Calls for Protection of Civilians in Israel
On Sunday, leaders of the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and Britain issued a joint statement expressing their support for Israel's right to defend itself while emphasizing the importance of adhering to international humanitarian law and safeguarding the well-being of civilians. The leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden, convened a virtual meeting to discuss the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Hamas militant group. They welcomed the release of two hostages by Hamas and urged for the immediate release of all remaining hostages. The meeting, which included the so-called Quint (the U.S., France, Britain, Germany, and Italy), as well as Canada, was organized following a conversation between President Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. These calls and discussions come at a time when there are increasing concerns that the Israel-Hamas conflict could escalate into a broader Middle East confrontation, marked by Israeli airstrikes on Gaza an...