US President Joe Biden doubled down on his push for a two-state solution on his first phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in nearly a month, National Security spokesman John Kirby said Friday from the White House.
The phone call between the leaders comes a day after Netanyahu publicly rebuffed the future of Palestinian statehood, saying Israel must maintain security control of the West Bank.
On the call, Biden and Netanyahu discussed ongoing efforts to secure the release of the remaining hostages, according to Kirby.
Kirby said Biden and Netanyahu also reviewed the situation in Gaza and the shift to targeted operations to enable the flow of increasing amounts of humanitarian assistance while keeping military pressure on Hamas.
"The President also discussed Israel's responsibility even as it maintains military pressure on Hamas and its leaders to reduce civilian harm and to protect the innocent," Kirby said.
According to Kirby, Biden also expressed his vision for "more durable peace and security for Israel" through a two-state solution.
"The President still believes in the promise and the possibility of a two state solution. He recognizes that it's going to take a lot of hard work. It's going to take a lot of leadership there in the region, particularly on both sides of the issue," Kirby said. "And the United States stands firmly committed to eventually seeing that outcome right now
Kirby avoided questioning on why the US is continuing to support a government that opposes its policy, saying the US is supporting the Israeli government's right to defend itself and supporting the Israeli people's right to exist as a nation.
Kirby did not say what the administration is prepared to officer in trying to get Netanyahu to align with US policy.
Kirby said the hope is that when the conflict is over, the US can work in a "collaborative way" with the Israeli government and counterparts in the region on good governance in Gaza.
Netanyahu's stance against a Palestinian state is not going to change Biden's view that the best long-term solution for regional security, and the security of the Israeli people, is a free, independent Palestinian state, Kirby said.
"We want to make sure Israel has what it needs to defend itself. But as we're talking about post conflict Gaza, and we have been now for many, many weeks, you can't do that without also talking about the aspirations of the Palestinian people and what that needs to look like for them," Kirby said. "So we're going to continue to have those conversations."
Bring them home
The release of the remaining hostages remains a priority for Biden and efforts are being taken seriously by the national security team, Kirby said.
The White House does not have any additional information on the condition of the hostages.
Kirby said he does not think Netanyahu's comments against a two state solution is negatively impacting hostage release discussions.
Kirby said he anticipates more calls between Netanyahu and Biden, as well as conversations between Biden and President Al Sisi of Egypt, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia, and King Abdullah of Jordan.
The US still opposes a general ceasefire as it wouldn't benefit anyone but Hamas, according to Kirby.
White House: US will continue defensive attacks against Houthis though success unclear
This US will continue taking action to defend itself from the Houthis, White House National Security Spokesman John Kirby said Friday.
The US conducted three successful self-defense strikes against targets in Yemen on Friday morning, the fourth "pre-emptive action" the US military took this week against Houthi missile launchers.
The White House continued to stress the actions in Yemen are done in self-defense.
Kirby deflected commenting on the success of the attacks to the Pentagon, which is not scheduled to hold a briefing on Friday.
"They believe that they have had good effects on degrading some of these Houthi capabilities. But clearly, and the President alluded to this yesterday, they still have some offensive capability and we're gonna keep taking the actions we believe we need to take to defend ourselves," Kirby said.
Kirby said the US has "choices to make" and that "we have options available to us as well."
"We obviously are not seeking a conflict with the Houthi sort of war in Yemen. The best outcome would be for these reckless attacks by the Houthis to stop today," Kirby said. "But we have the capability we need."