Biden, Netanyahu Talk Rafah & Aid In 1st Call In Over A Month

Wires reporting comments from the White House after the first phone call between US President Joe Biden and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu in their first direct conversation since 15 February. The White House says that the two discussed the situation in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, as well as 'efforts to surge humanitarian assistance to Gaza'. The White House confirmed that a readout af the call would be forthcoming.

• Relations between the Netanyahu gov't and the Biden administration have soured somewhat in recent days. US Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY)'s speech calling for fresh elections in Israel led to a sharp backlash from Israeli gov't members. As Axios notes, "In his own recent remarks, Biden has been attempting a tricky maneuver: breaking with Netanyahu and his Gaza war strategy while sticking with Israel and its fight against Hamas."
• The EU is stepping up its comments regarding the need for humanitairan aid to enter Gaza amid widespread shortages of food and clean water. The High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell released a statement calling for the Israeli gov't to "allow free, unimpeded, and safe humanitarian access to all people in need". There remain divisions at the member state level as to preferred policy vis-a-vis the Israel-Hamas war.