As another three-day ceasefire between Israel and Hama seems to be in place, President Barack Obama told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu he wants a “sustainable” peace, according to the White House.
President Barack Obama meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Monday, March 3, 2014. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Obama, while vacationing in Martha's Vineyard, talked to the prime minister by phone Wednesday to talk about calming the situation in Gaza where Israel has been fending off Hamas rocket attacks for weeks.
“The president reaffirmed the United States’ support for Egypt’s mediation efforts and underscored the importance of achieving a sustainable outcome that ensures Israel’s security and addresses Gaza’s humanitarian crisis,” said the White House readout of the conversation.
Senior Hamas member Izzat al-Rishq said Wednesday Hamas agreed to extend ceasefire another 72 hours, the Associated Press reported. A previous 72-hour ceasefire began Sunday and ended Wednesday.
However, Fox News previously reported three rockets were fired into Israel two hours before the temporary truce ended Wednesday.
The White House said Obama and Netanyahu focused on the “ongoing negotiations in Cairo to achieve a sustainable ceasefire agreement.”
Hamas is recognized as a terrorist group by the U.S. State Department.
Hamas has violated previous ceasefires with Israel, which has aggressively defended itself against rocket attacks and was aided by the U.S. provided Iron Dome missile defense system.
Hamas wants to end the blockade placed on them by Israel and Egypt that the terror group says inhibits the movement of Palestinian to shipment of goods. Israel argues the blockade is necessary to prevent the movement of arms.
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