President Trump spoke Sunday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as Israel and its leader face rising global backlash over its plan to expand military control of the Gaza Strip.
Netanyahu’s office announced the call in a post on social media, saying the leaders “discussed Israel’s plans for taking control of the remaining Hamas strongholds in Gaza in order to bring about the end of the war, the release of the hostages and the defeat of Hamas.”
Netanyahu also “thanked President Trump for his steadfast support of Israel since the start of the war,” his office said.
The call comes as Netanyahu defends Israel’s plans to increase its military presence in Gaza with the stated goal of wiping out the remaining Hamas strongholds in the Palestinian territory.
Trump has given Netanyahu a tacit endorsement to take over the Gaza Strip, even as other US and Israeli allies hold back military aid and condemn the Israeli government for the escalating hunger crisis in Gaza.
“I know that we are there now trying to get people fed. … As far as the rest of it, I really can’t say. That’s going to be pretty much up to Israel,” Trump said earlier this week when asked about Netanyahu’s plan.
Netanyahu defended the Israel plan in a Sunday press conference, accusing the country’s critics and media outlets of promoting “fake” stories about starving children and comparing the claims to lies spread throughout history to justify mass slaughters of Jews.
Germany announced Friday it would halt military exports to Israel that can be used in the Gaza Strip. France, Canada and the United Kingdom previously expressed their intents to recognize an independent Palestinian state, a move vehemently opposed by Israel.
U.S. lawmakers have become increasingly outspoken against Israel after its military has repeatedly opened fire on Palestinians at food distribution sites.
“Look, Israel had a right, of course, to defend itself from the terrible terrorist attack from Hamas, but what they have done since then is gone to war against the entire Palestinian people,” said Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in a Sunday interview with CNN’s “State of the Union.”
Sanders, who is Jewish, criticized Netanyahu’s decision to “impose a blockade, preventing food to come in.”
