Netanyahu ‘determined’ to continue Gaza bombardment

Israeli fighter jets continued to pummel the Gaza Strip on Thursday, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defied the United States’ call to seek a de-escalation on the path to a ceasefire, reports Aljazeera.

At least 227 Palestinians have been killed in 11 days of violence. The dead include 64 children and 38 women.

On the Israeli side, 12 people have been killed.

US President Joe Biden on Wednesday discussed the events in Gaza with Netanyahu, telling the caretaker leader that he expected “a significant de-escalation today on the path to a ceasefire”.

But Netanyahu, speaking after the phone call with Biden, said he was “determined” to continue bombarding Gaza until Israel’s “aim is met”.

Diplomatic efforts for a ceasefire between Israel and Gaza’s Hamas rulers, meanwhile, remain stalled, with the United States continuing to block UN Security Council action on the issue.