Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is expected to visit Israel in the coming days, according to sources close to Maximos Palace. The sources on Monday stressed that if the visit takes place, it will be strictly bilateral and not a part of some European Union initiative.
Earlier the same day, during a phone conversation, Mitsotakis and the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, discussed the Israeli-Hamas war.
During the telephone call, according to the announcement of the prime minister's office, "the two leaders discussed the latest developments following the terrorist attacks by Hamas against Israel and the situation in the Gaza Strip."
"The Prime Minister underlined the need to avoid a humanitarian crisis and not to threaten regional stability," the announcement added.
Biden visit will not complicate or delay potential Gaza ground incursion, IDF says
Meanwhile, the Israeli military does not expect a planned visit by US President Joe Biden to complicate or delay any ground invasion of Gaza, a spokesperson told CNN on Tuesday.
Israel Defense Forces international spokesperson Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus told CNN’s John Vause he believes Biden supports Israel's campaign to defeat Hamas.
“I think the president also said that ‘Hamas needs to be destroyed,’ and that is exactly our military aim," Conricus said.
Biden is scheduled to arrive in Israel on Wednesday.
Russian resolution rejected
The United Nations Security Council on Monday rejected a Russian resolution calling for a humanitarian ceasefire of the war between Israel and Hamas because the draft did not get the required minimum number of votes to be passed.
The resolution received five votes in favor, four against and six abstentions, with the United States, the United Kingdom and France voting against due the resolution's failure to condemn Hamas for its attacks on Israel. The draft would have needed nine votes in favor to proceed.
"By failing to condemn Hamas, Russia is giving cover to a terrorist group that brutalizes innocent civilians. It is outrageous, it is hypocritical, and it is indefensible," US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said in justification to the US' vote. She previously compared the attacks executed by Hamas to the "most heinous atrocities committed by ISIS."
"We cannot support a resolution which fails to condemn Hamas’ terror attacks," Ambassador Barbara Woodward, the UK's Permanent Representative to the UN, said in her explanation of vote.
France's Permanent Representative to the UN Nicolas de Rivière said "several essential elements were lacking" from Russia's draft resolution and instead encouraged the council to "unite around the draft proposed by the Brazilian presidency, and agree to condemn this terrorist attack, ensure humanitarian assistance and protect the civilian population of Gaza."
Russia’s Ambassador to the UN Vasily Nebenzya claimed the resolution failed to get adopted because of the western bloc's selfish intentions.
"The UN Security Council has once again become hostage to the aspirations of Western countries by not adopting the Russian Federation's draft resolution on the Middle East," Nebenzya stated, according to Russian state media RIA Novosti.
Moscow has previously criticized Israel’s actions and called for a ceasefire.
Japan announces $10 million in emergency assistance for Gaza civilians
Japan will provide $10 million in emergency assistance for civilians in Gaza, Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa said in a press conference on Tuesday.
The assistance will come "through international organizations," Kamikawa added.
“Japan will work with humanitarian groups to ensure that innocent civilians and Palestinian refugees receive food, water, medical care, and support they need," she said.
The foreign minister reiterated Japan’s firm condemnation of Hamas's attacks and expressed support for diplomatic efforts.
READ MORE: Mitsotakis and Erdoğan discuss Israel-Hamas war.
