Obama reiterated his "strong condemnation" of rocket and tunnel attacks against Israel by the militant group Hamas, but also expressed "growing concern" about the rising number of Palestinian civilian deaths in Gaza.
Obama called for an "immediate, unconditional" humanitarian ceasefire, according to a White House readout of the call. Negotiations to extend a 12-hour truce broke down over the weekend. Israel says it offered to extend the ceasefire for another 24 hours, only to see new rocket fire from Gaza. Israel then resumed its own military actions in Gaza.
"Hamas has broken five cease-fires that we accepted," Netanyahu said on Fox News Sunday. "They rejected all of them, violated all of them, including two humanitarian cease-fires in the last 24 hours."
On the call with Netanyahu, Obama stressed the need to enact a "sustainable ceasefire" that both "allows Palestinians in Gaza to lead normal lives, and addresses Gaza's long-term development and economic needs while strengthening the Palestinian Authority."
Any lasting solution to the ongoing conflict would only occur with the disarmament of terrorist groups and demilitarization of Gaza, Obama said.
Blog author's comments - Anyone who has been paying attention during Obama's presidency has to know where his loyalty lies with regard to Israel and their many enemies. I have no idea what Obama expects Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to do to protect Israel and its people from the terrorists. I don't believe there will ever be peace in the Middle East because Hamas and other terrorist groups will not recognize Israel's right to exist.
At one time America was Israel's very close ally. If Obama would come out and say that the United States completely backs Israel it may help the current situation. But this will not happen. It is really too bad that America does not have a leader who is even close to the caliber of man that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is. Netanyahu truly cares for the people and his country of Israel and will do what he feels he must to protect them. Can most of us really say that about Obama and America? I don't think so.
