Joe Biden spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. » said the White House.

In a statement, the US presidency said the leaders were committed to continue coordination with partners in the region to ensure “sustainable and safe access to food, water, medical care and other assistance” in Gaza.

The Rafah border crossing reopened on Sunday so that 17 trucks carrying humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people could reach the Gaza Strip, following the entry of 20 trucks on Saturday.

After the first 20 trucks passed through, the United Nations estimated that their cargo represented just 4 percent of daily imports into Gaza before the war began, and that at least 100 trucks per day would be needed.

Residents of the Gaza Strip have been subject to an Israeli blockade that has deprived them of food, water, medicine and electricity since the Islamist group Hamas launched an offensive against southern Israel on October 7.

Since then, the territory’s more than 2.4 million residents, half of whom are children, have struggled with Israeli airstrikes and increasingly scarce resources.

The six heads of government launched a call for “respect for international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians“, although they “reiterated their support for Israel and its right to defend itself against terrorism.”

The press release also promises close diplomatic coordination, particularly with “key” partners in the region, “to prevent the spread of conflict, preserve stability in the Middle East and work towards a political solution and lasting peace“.

Additionally, the leaders spoke of the situation of their own citizens trapped by the war, “especially those who wish to leave the Gaza Strip,” a Palestinian territory under an Israeli-imposed blockade.

According to the White House, the five Western leaders expressed to Biden their satisfaction with the release of two hostages, a mother and a daughter of American nationality, and called for the “immediate” release of the approximately 210 hostages held in captivity by Hamas .

The Islamist group launched a surprise attack on southern Israel on October 7 with the launch of thousands of rockets and the incursion of armed militiamen.

In response, Israel declared war on Hamas, in a conflict that left at least 6,200 dead and thousands injured, including soldiers and civilians, in the two territories.