During their meeting, US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized the "critical need" to safeguard civilians and keep them apart from Hamas militants, even when doing so requires using corridors.
"The President emphasized the critical need to protect civilians and to separate the civilian population from Hamas, including through corridors that allow people to move safely from defined areas of hostilities," the White House stated in an official statement.
The statement continued, "President Biden expressed his continued worry over extremist violence against Palestinians and the necessity of enhancing stability in the West Bank. As UN officials warned that there are no more safe locations in the beleaguered enclave, residents of southern Gaza's Rafah reported that the Israeli force had struck the area twice during the night, according to AP reports.
In the midst of Israel's expanding air and ground offensive in the southern portion of the territory, which has resulted in the displacement of tens of thousands of Palestinians and exacerbated the catastrophic humanitarian conditions, combat has also been witnessed in the middle of Khan Younis, the second-largest city in Gaza.
More than 80% of Gaza's population, or 1.87 million people, have been displaced from their homes since the Israel-Hamas war began on October 7, following the devastating Hamas attack on southern Israel, according to the UN.
Approximately 1,200 Israelis have perished, the most of them were civilians slain by Hamas on October 7. According to the Health Ministry of Gaza, which is controlled by Hamas, there have been over 17,100 deaths and over 46,000 injuries in the region.
Israel War Day-62: Israel steps up its ground offensive against Hamas in the southern Gaza Strip