Netanyahu told the delegation that he defines victory in Gaza as the destruction of the Hamas terrorist organization's military and governing capabilities, the return of the Israeli Hamas holds hostage in Gaza and preventing Gaza from becoming a threat to Israel at any time in the future.
Biden had again rejected during the call the "strawman argument that raising questions about Rafah is equivalent to raising questions about defeating Hamas. Hamas should not be allowed a safe haven anywhere."
The Hamas figure killed during the raid was identified as Faiq Mabhuoch, head of the Operations Directorate of Hamas's Internal Security. Mabhuoh was also responsible for coordinating Hamas terror activities in the Gaza Strip.
Israel Defence Force (IDF) Spokesperson RAdm Daniel Hagari said in the wee hours of Monday that the operation is a response to concrete intelligence requiring immediate action, emphasising that the objective is to combat Hamas militants rather than harm civilians.
Waste from humanitarian shipments that ended up in the sea was removed in a cleanup dive carried out off the coast of Ashkelon by Israel's Ministry of Environmental Protection.
Israeli troops continued operations in the central Gaza Strip, where over the past day approximately 18 terrorists were killed by sniper, shell, and aerial fire, the Israel Defense Forces said on Sunday morning.