Biden to Bibi, minimize harm to civilians in Lebanon

(ANSA) – WASHINGTON, 09 OCT – In his phone call with Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden “underlined the need for a diplomatic agreement to safely return both Lebanese and Israeli civilians to their homes on both sides of the Blue Line” , and “affirmed Israel’s right to protect its citizens from Hezbollah, which has fired thousands of missiles and rockets into Israel in the last year alone, while underlining the need to minimize harm to civilians, particularly in densely populated areas of Beirut”. This was announced by the White House. Joe Biden – adds an official note – “affirmed his ironclad commitment to Israel’s security” and “unequivocally condemned Iran’s ballistic missile attack against Israel on October 1st”. The two leaders “agreed to remain in close contact over the coming days, both directly and through their respective national security teams.” The President of the United States and the Israeli Prime Minister also discussed “the urgent need to renew diplomacy to free the hostages held by Hamas”, “the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the imperative to restore access to the north, including by revitalizing immediately the corridor from Jordan”. (HANDLE).