President Joe Biden claims that he is working with Palestinians and Israelis towards a "sustained calm" as conflict between the two continues to escalate.

The POTUS made his reassurances that pacifying the situation in Gaza was a priority for his administration in a statement posted to the official website of the White House on Friday, May 14, in a video celebrating Eid.

In it, Biden stated: "We were heartened to see Eid celebrations around the world, but we know that this year, the situation in the Holy Land is weighing heavily on Muslims everywhere, including our Muslim communities here in the United States.

"Palestinians - including in Gaza - and Israelis equally deserve to live in dignity, safety, and security. No family should have to fear for their safety within their own home or place of worship."

In a special video address to Muslim worshippers celebrating the holy festival, the POTUS - alongside First Lady Jill Biden - also briefly touched upon the escalation of violence between Israel and Palestine in recent days and reiterated his prior statement.

Speaking on the importance of promoting freedom of worship among the Muslim community at home and abroad, Biden stated:

"Palestinians and Israelis also deserve to live in safety and security and enjoy an equal measure of freedom, prosperity, and democracy.

"And my administration is going to continue to engage Palestinians and Israelis [...] to work towards sustained calm."

In a press conference held at the White House on Wednesday, May 12, Biden claimed that he'd spoken with the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier that day, and had called for an end to the hostilities.

Biden stated: "My expectation and hope is this will be closing down sooner than later. Israel has a right to defend itself when you have thousands of rockets flying into their territory.

"But I had a conversation with the Prime Minister of Israel, and my hope is that I will see this coming to conclusion soon."

The incumbent president's comments were roundly criticized by his predecessor Donald Trump, who wrote in a statement on his website: "Under Biden, the world is getting more violent and more unstable because Biden’s weakness and lack of support for Israel is leading to new attacks on our allies.

"America must always stand with Israel and make clear that the Palestinians must end the violence, terror, and rocket attacks, and make clear that the US will always strongly support Israel’s right to defend itself."

Meanwhile, New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has also criticized Biden's statement and endorsed a pro-Palestine stance.

In a statement addressed to her 12.7 million followers on Twitter, Ocasio-Cortez wrote: "Blanket statements like these w/ little context or acknowledgment of what precipitated this cycle of violence.

"Namely, the expulsions of Palestinians and attacks on Al Aqsa - dehumanize Palestinians & imply the US will look the other way at human rights violations. It’s wrong. [sic]"

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US President Joe Biden has asked the Israeli Prime Minister to ceasefire amid the deadly conflict with Palestine.

The POTUS made the request on Monday, May 17, during a call with PM Benjamin Netanyahu after the violence at the weekend, including an airstrike that claimed the lives of at least 42 people, The Sun reports.

Per CBS, a statement from the White House detailing a readout of the call said:

"The President reiterated his firm support for Israel's right to defend itself against indiscriminate rocket attacks.

"The President welcomed efforts to address intercommunal violence and to bring calm to Jerusalem."

Biden also asked Netanyahu to take action to "ensure the protection of innocent civilians," the statement added.

Additional violence could be prevented by engaging allies including Egypt. On May 17 the second week of conflict between Israel and Hamas began.

The Sun reports that Biden's call with the prime minister became public knowledge after it was revealed that Biden's administration approved the sale of $735 million worth of weapons to Israel shortly before the conflict began.

Around a week before the violence erupted on May 5, Congress was informed of the alleged sale, per Washington Post.

The current crisis is now the worst conflict to hit the area since the 2014 Hamas-Israeli which raged for almost two months.

Per Al Jazeera, a minimum of 192 Palestinians and 10 Israelis have lost their lives over the past week as a result of the conflict. A further 1,300 have been injured.

Fifty-eight of those who lost their lives were children, it has been reported.

Airstrikes were launched in Gaza on Monday by Israeli warplanes during a 20 minute period and they targeted the homes of Hamas leaders as well as tunnels that were being used by the militant group.

Nine residences that reportedly housed Hamas commanders were targeted and more than nine miles of the Hamas' tunnel system were bombed.

Hussam Abu Harbid, the commander of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) Northern Division, was allegedly killed in this strike.

According to the Israeli air force, he was the man behind rocket attacks against Israel, and this included the ones which were launched last week.

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Joe Biden has appeared to defend Israel after an escalation in conflict in the Middle East.

The President of the United States made his comments following a phone conversation with the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu.

Per CNN, in a press conference held at the White House on Wednesday, May 12, the POTUS claimed that he'd spoken with Netanyahu earlier that day, stating: "My expectation and hope is this will be closing down sooner than later.

"Israel has a right to defend itself when you have thousands of rockets flying into their territory. But I had a conversation with the Prime Minister of Israel, and my hope is that I will see this coming to conclusion soon."

Biden's comments come in the wake of a series of skirmishes between Israel and Palestine, following the Israeli Supreme Court's decision to evict Palestinians from their homes in Jerusalem.

The crisis in the region appeared to intensify further after a clash between Muslims praying at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound prior to the beginning of Ramadan and Israeli riot police.

This led to more civil disturbances across the nation, leaving a number of Palestinians being injured on Monday, May 10.

CNN reports that, according to a report by the Israeli military, Hamas militants in Gaza fired more than 1,000 rockets into Israel in response, leading to a total of seven deaths, and a further 200 injuries among Israeli civilians.

As a result, Israel's military has renewed its bombardment in the most intense campaign of airstrikes in Gaze since 2014.

Al Jazeera reports that at least 83 Palestinians, including 17 children, have been killed due to the targeted destruction of a number of high-rise tower blocks, which the Israeli military claims held a number of terrorist leaders.

Netanyahu has also declared an emergency in the town of Lod, southeast of Tel Aviv, following more rioting from pro-Palestine groups.

Per Daily Telegraph, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has also defended Israel's military response, stating:

"[There is] a very clear and absolute distinction between a terrorist organization, Hamas, that is indiscriminately raining down rockets - in fact, targeting civilians - and Israel's response defending itself."

However, Biden's predecessor Donald Trump appeared to blame him for the escalation of violence in a statement on his website, writing:

"Under Biden, the world is getting more violent and more unstable because Biden’s weakness and lack of support for Israel is leading to new attacks on our allies.

"America must always stand with Israel and make clear that the Palestinians must end the violence, terror, and rocket attacks, and make clear that the US will always strongly support Israel’s right to defend itself."

Meanwhile, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has also criticized Biden's statement and endorsed a pro-Palestine stance.

In a statement addressed to her 12.7 million followers on Twitter, Ocasio-Cortez wrote: "Blanket statements like these w/ little context or acknowledgment of what precipitated this cycle of violence.

"Namely, the expulsions of Palestinians and attacks on Al Aqsa - dehumanize Palestinians & imply the US will look the other way at human rights violations. It’s wrong. [sic]"

Featured Image Credit: Alamy/Keith Turril

Former US President Donald Trump has hit out at current President Joe Biden, blaming his "weakness" for the escalating violence between Israel and Gaza - which has already seen over 40 deaths.

Claiming Biden's administration is enabling the situation in which militant groups are launching a barrage of missiles from the Gaza Strip into Tel Aviv, Trump slammed Biden's "lack of support" for Israel in a statement on his website.

What's more, Trump boldly said his administration was known as the "Peace Presidency" - a claim millions of Americans are sure to dispute.

Explaining why he believes that to be the truth, Trump said it's "because Israel's adversaries knew that the United States stood strongly with Israel and there would be swift retribution if Israel was attacked."

In a statement from his office, Trump wrote: "Under Biden, the world is getting more violent and more unstable because Biden’s weakness and lack of support for Israel is leading to new attacks on our allies.

"America must always stand with Israel and make clear that the Palestinians must end the violence, terror, and rocket attacks, and make clear that the US will always strongly support Israel’s right to defend itself."

He went on to blast Democrats for continuing to "stand by crazed anti-American Rep. Omar, and others, who savagely attack Israel while they are under terrorist assault."

The White House on Monday expressed "serious concerns" about the situation, saying it is being "closely" monitored, however, Biden himself has yet to comment on the matter.

Biden's press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters on Monday: "We have serious concerns about the situation, including violent confrontations that we've seen over the last few days."

Biden's 2020 presidential campaign website says he "believes in the worth and value of every Palestinian and every Israeli."

It says: "He will work to ensure that Palestinians and Israelis enjoy equal measures of freedom, security, prosperity, and democracy. His policies will be grounded in a commitment to a two-state solution, where Israel and the future viable state of Palestine will live together in peace, security, and mutual recognition.

"Biden opposes any unilateral steps by either side that undermine a two-state solution. He opposes annexation and settlement expansion and will continue to oppose both as President."

The website adds that as president, Biden would "take immediate steps to restore economic and humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people, consistent with U.S. law, including assistance to refugees, work to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, reopen the U.S. consulate in East Jerusalem, and work to reopen the [Palestine Liberation Organization] mission in Washington."

It comes as violence broke out after the Israeli Supreme Court upheld plans to evict Palestinians from Jerusalem.

The current rate of airstrikes in Gaza is the most intense since the bombardment in 2014.

The deadly violence has forced Gaza's health ministry to speak out, saying that Israel's military has renewed its bombardment of the besieged Gaza Strip, per Al Jazeera.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has also declared an emergency in the town of Lod, southeast of Tel Aviv, following what police called "wide-scale riots" by supporters of the Palestinians.

Vowing to continue attacks on Palestinians in Gaza, he said in a nationally televised speech late on Tuesday that Hamas "have paid, and will pay a heavy price", per BBC.

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Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has criticized Joe Biden's perceived support of Israel amid escalating conflict in Gaza.

In a statement addressed to her 12.7 million followers on Twitter, the New York Representative has taken a pro-Palestine Stance and slammed the incumbent President's response.

AOC tweeted:

"Blanket statements like these w/ little context or acknowledgment of what precipitated this cycle of violence.

"Namely, the expulsions of Palestinians and attacks on Al Aqsa - dehumanize Palestinians & imply the US will look the other way at human rights violations. It’s wrong. [sic]"

In a follow-up tweet, she continued:

"By only stepping in to name Hamas’ actions - which are condemnable - & refusing to acknowledge the rights of Palestinians, Biden reinforces the false idea that Palestinians instigated this cycle of violence.

"This is not neutral language. It takes a side - the side of occupation."

The POTUS addressed the recent outbreak of violence, civil disorder, and rocket attacks in the Middle East in a press conference held at the White House on Wednesday, May 12.

Per CNN, Biden stated that he had spoken with the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, earlier that morning, stating: "My expectation and hope is this will be closing down sooner than later."

He then added: "Israel has a right to defend itself when you have thousands of rockets flying into their territory. But I had a conversation with the Prime Minister of Israel, and my hope is that I will see this coming to conclusion soon."

In contrast to Ocasio-Cortez, Biden's presidential predecessor Donald Trump appeared to take the opposite stance in a statement on his website, writing:

"Under Biden, the world is getting more violent and more unstable because Biden’s weakness and lack of support for Israel is leading to new attacks on our allies.

"America must always stand with Israel and make clear that the Palestinians must end the violence, terror, and rocket attacks, and make clear that the US will always strongly support Israel’s right to defend itself."

Following the Israeli Supreme Court's decision to evict a number of Palestinians from their homes in Jerusalem, the region has seen yet more outbreaks of violence, leading to the Israeli military's most intense campaign of airstrikes in Gaza since 2014

Al Jazeera reports that at least 83 Palestinians, including 17 children, have been killed due to the targeted destruction of a number of high-rise tower blocks, which the Israeli military claims held a number of terrorist leaders.

Meanwhile, per CNN, the Israeli military reports that Hamas militants in Gaza fired more than 1,000 rockets into Israel prior to this, leading to a total of seven deaths, and a further 200 injuries among Israeli civilians.

Netanyahu has also declared an emergency in the town of Lod, southeast of Tel Aviv, following more rioting from pro-Palestine groups.

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President Joe Biden was seen placing his head onto his hands during a news conference following questions about the recent Kabul attack in Afghanistan.

Biden's address on Thursday came after 13 US servicemen - including 12 Marines and one Navy medic - were killed following an attack by an ISIS-K suicide bomber earlier in the day.

As reported by ABC News, the attack took place at Kabul airport's Abbey Gate as evacuation efforts continued. As well as the 13 US troops, at least 170 Afghans were killed, along with two Brits and the child of a British citizen.

While speaking to reporters in the White House Briefing Room, Biden was asked the following question by Fox News reporter Peter Doocy:

"Mr. President, there had not been a US service member killed in combat in Afghanistan since February of 2020. You set a deadline. You pulled troops out. You sent troops back in. And now 12 Marines are dead. You said the buck stops with you. Do you bear any responsibility for the way that things have unfolded in the last two weeks?"

Responding to Doocy - whom Biden had described as "the most interesting guy he knew in the press" - the President said: "I bear responsibility for, fundamentally, all that’s happened of late."

Biden then continued to discuss an agreement made between the Trump Administration and the Taliban, saying: "But here’s the deal: You know — I wish you’d one day say these things — you know as well as I do that the former President made a deal with the Taliban that he would get all American forces out of Afghanistan by May 1.

"In return, the commitment was made — and that was a year before — in return, he was given a commitment that the Taliban would continue to attack others, but would not attack any American forces."

The POTUS then asks Doocy if he "remembered that".

After a back-and-forth between the pair - some of which was not picked up by pool microphones - President Biden could be seen slowly placing his head onto his hands.

Following Biden's gesture of apparent exacerbation, Doocy asked: "Do you think that people have an issue with pulling out of Afghanistan, or just the way that things have happened?"

"I think they have an issue that people are likely to get hurt — some, as we’ve seen, have gotten killed — and that it is messy."

Biden then continued to reference President Trump's deal with the Taliban not to attack US forces.

The exchange between the pair came to a close after Doocy asked Biden if he stood by his decision to pull out of Afghanistan, to which the President replied: "Yes, I do."

In his closing statements to the room, Biden told reporters: "As I’ve said 100 times: Terrorism has metastasized around the world; we have greater threats coming out of other countries a heck of a lot closer to the United States.

"We don’t have military encampments there; we don’t keep people there. We have over-the-horizon capability to keep them from going after us.

"Ladies and gentlemen, it was time to end a 20-year war."

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