Biden holds talks with Western leaders as Israel ramps up Gaza bombardment

U.S. President Joe Biden held fresh discussions with Western leaders on Sunday amid fears the conflict is spiraling out of control as Israel intensified its bombardment of Gaza, fired rockets at Damascus and Aleppo airports on Sunday, killing two workers, and amid fresh clashes on Lebanon’s southern border with Israel between Israeli forces and Hezbollah.

The White House said the leaders of the U.K., France, Germany, Italy and Canada had “reiterated their support for Israel and its right to defend itself against terrorism and called for adherence to international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians.”

It added that the leaders discussed their own citizens trapped in the conflict, “in particular those wishing to leave Gaza.”

The latest death toll from Gaza indicates more than 4,600 Palestinians, mainly civilians, have been killed according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The bombardment is in response to Hamas’ raid into Israel on October 7, in which it killed at least 1,400 people and seized more than 200 hostages. Biden spoke to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, President Emmanuel Macron of France, Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.