Israel launches more airstrikes after Biden calls for de-escalation

Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City resumed Thursday after an eight-hour pause, according to local news sources, one day after President Biden said he expected to see a “significant de-escalation” in violence in the region.

Reuters reported that the airstrikes killed one woman and wounded four children. One of the children told the news service they were gathered on the couch in their home when an Israeli strike collapsed part of the building.

“We were sitting on the sofa when a missile landed. There was heavy smoke and we couldn’t see anything,” 14-year-old Amira Esleem said.

The new airstrikes come amid stepped-up efforts by the Biden administration for a cease-fire amid mounting pressure from Democrats to act in the face of a possible humanitarian disaster. Some progressives are moving forward with a resolution to block an announced sale of arms to Israel in response to the violence.

On Wednesday, Biden urged a “significant de-escalation” in the Israel-Hamas conflict during a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“The two leaders had a detailed discussion on the state of events in Gaza, Israel’s progress in degrading the capabilities of Hamas and other terrorist elements, and ongoing diplomatic efforts by regional governments and the United States,” the White House said Wednesday. “The President conveyed to the Prime Minister that he expected a significant de-escalation today on the path to a ceasefire.”

More than 200 Palestinians, including dozens of children and other non-combatants, have died since the beginning of the conflict, while roughly a dozen Israeli citizens have died from Hamas rocket fire.