Israel-Hamas war: Immediate Gaza ceasefire, Joe Biden tells Benjamin Netanyahu in US’s toughest stand yet

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• According to the White House, Biden told Netanyahu over the phone that Palestinian civilians and foreign aid workers should be protected or the US would re-think its support for Israel in its war against Hamas.

• Biden administration officials said the US President did not mince words about the aftermath of the war and that the conversation with Netanyahu was “direct” and “honest”.

• The White House didn’t say exactly what steps the US wanted Netanyahu to take and what it would do if the Israeli Prime Minister did not adhere to Washington’s warnings.

• Meanwhile, former US President Donald Trump, a Republican vying for the White House, said Israel was “absolutely losing the war” and gave a tough message to the Jewish nation, saying, “Get it over with.” He also called for a swift resolution to end the fighting.

• An Israeli official, quoted by CNN, said the crossing would be opened to allow more humanitarian aid to enter Gaza. The cabinet also approved using the Israeli port of Ashdod to help transfer more aid to the war-torn enclave.

• Despite the US’s objections, Netanyahu has vowed to launch an offensive in Rafah, the last Hamas stronghold. The move potentially risks the lives of over half of the population that has settled in the southern Gaza town after fleeing from other parts of the Strip during the war.