Biden’s Middle East Weekend Diplomacy: Phone Calls With Pope, Netanyahu, Trudeau, European Leaders

President Joe Biden spoke on Sunday by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, discussed the latest developments in Israel and Gaza with Pope Francis, and convened an afternoon call with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other world leaders on the matter, according to the White House and media pool reports.

Biden also spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron, Germany Olaf Chancellor Scholz, Italy Prime Minister Meloni Giorgia Meloni, and United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, said the White House.

In his conversation with the pope, Biden condemned the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by the militant group Hamas, maintained the need to protect civilians in Gaza amid a humanitarian crisis and discussed his trip to Israel earlier this week. The pair also discussed a desire to avert escalation regionally and to work toward a durable peace in the Middle East, per a readout.

Details were not immediately available concerning the president's phone call with Netanyahu. During his visit to Israel earlier this week, the president affirmed the U.S.' "ironclad" commitment to Israel amid its conflict with Hamas.

The president and Vice President Kamala Harris were also briefed this morning by their national security team on the latest developments in Israel and Gaza.