'Didn't ask for ceasefire': 'GMA' correspondent Jay O'Brien sheds light on call between Biden, Netanyahu
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: President Joe Biden had a telephone conversation with Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, on December 23, followed by a meeting with the press.
The episode of 'Good Morning America' on the following day broached the topic, with 'GMA' correspondent Jay O'Brien joining in from the White House for further details regarding the situation.
What did President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discuss?
Answering questions from reporters before leaving the White House for Christmas at Camp David, Biden said, "I had a long talk with Netanyahu today. It was a private conversation."
"I did not ask for a cease-fire," he later added.
The White House released a readout of the call between the two leaders, which stated that they discussed Israel's military operation in Gaza, the humanity crises in the latter region, and ways to secure the release of the remaining hostages.
It further read that the incumbent president and Israeli PM have agreed to remain in "regular consultation," reported ABC News.
O'Brien told 'GMA' hosts that while Biden denied asking for a cease-fire, the White House stressed upon him telling the "Israeli leader (about) the need to protect Palestinian civilians as casualties continue to mount and Israeli forces continue their campaign against Hamas in Gaza."
"Netanyahu has previously vowed that Israel will fight until the terrorist group there is destroyed," he stated.
The United Nations stand on Israel-Hamas war
"Meanwhile other nations have been pressuring Israel to scale back its operations," continued the correspondent, shifting the discussion to the international forum.
He added, "At the United Nations, after objections from the US, the UN Security Council stopped short of demanding a cease-fire in Gaza, and instead, passed a resolution calling for more humanitarian aid to civilians there."
The United States as well as its adversary, Russia, chose to abstain from voting on that resolution, reported O'Brien.
President Joe Biden facing mounting pressure inside Democratic Party
"Back home, … some progressive Democrats (have called) on the President to push Israel to stop its offensive," said the reporter.
"All of this comes after a report in The Wall Street Journal - that in the days after the October 7 Hamas attack, President Biden successfully pressured the Israeli Prime Minister not to mount a pre-emptive strike against Hezbollah forces in Lebanon, which could have led to a wider war in that region," he concluded.
