Biden says it is 'really important' that Israel adheres to rules of war

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - US President Joe Biden said Wednesday that he told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that it is "really important" for Israel to adhere to the international law of war as it carries out strikes on Gaza and prepares for an expected ground offensive.

Biden said he has known Netanyahu for over 40 years, describing their relationship as "very frank."

"I know him well. And the one thing that I did say, that, it is really important that Israel, with all the anger, and frustration, and just, I don’t know how to explain it, that exists, is that they operate by the rules of war, the rules of war, and there are rules of war," he said as he hosted Jewish leaders at the White House.

"I believe Israel is doing everything in its power to pull the country together, to stay on the same page. And we're going to do everything in our power to make sure Israel will succeed, and God willing, bring home those Americans who are in harm's way," he added.

The US has already begun deliveries of military aid to Israel to bolster its stockpiles and has deployed an aircraft carrier strike group in the Mediterranean in a display of what it says is deterrence against other parties joining the conflict.

Israeli forces launched a sustained and forceful military campaign against the Gaza Strip in response to a military offensive Saturday by the Palestinian group Hamas in Israel.

The conflict began when Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood -- a multi-pronged surprise attack including a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel via land, sea and air.

Hamas said it was in retaliation for the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and Israeli settlers’ growing violence against Palestinians.

The Israeli military launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets within the Gaza Strip in response.

That response was extended into cutting water, food, fuel and electricity to Gaza in what it describes as a "full siege," further worsening living conditions in an area that has reeled under a crippling siege since 2007.

The UN’s human rights chief, Volker Turk, said Tuesday that Israel’s siege violates international law.

“The imposition of sieges that endanger the lives of civilians by depriving them of goods essential for their survival is prohibited under international humanitarian law,” Turk said in a statement.