Israel-Gaza conflict: US President Joe Biden calls for ceasefire after eight days of violence in Middle East

US President Joe Biden has called for a ceasefire after eight days of violence between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza.

Mr Biden expressed his support for a ceasefire during a phone call with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and said that the US was working with Egypt and other countries to stop the hostilities.

However, the US President stopped short of demanding an immediate stop to the conflict.

His statement came with the administration under pressure to respond more forcefully to the violence in the Middle East.

Another night of violence

Israel carried out a wave of air strikes overnight on what it said were militant targets in Gaza, levelling a six-storey building in Gaza City.

Palestinian militants fired dozens of rockets into Israel.

The Israeli strikes toppled the Kahil building, which contains libraries and educational centres belonging to the Islamic University.

There were no immediate reports of casualties from the overnight strikes.

60 fighter jets took part in air strikes

The Israeli military said on Tuesday it fired more than 100 munitions at 65 militant targets, including rocket launchers, a group of fighters and the homes of Hamas commanders that the army said were being used for military purposes.

It said more than 60 fighter jets took part in the operation.

The military said Palestinian militants fired 90 rockets, 20 of which fell short into Gaza. Israel says its missile defences have a 90% interception rate.

Over 200 dead in conflict

At least 212 Palestinians have been killed in the week of heavy air strikes, including 61 children and 36 women, with more than 1,400 people wounded, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

Ten people in Israel, including a five-year-old boy and a soldier, have been killed in the ongoing rocket attacks launched from civilian areas in Gaza towards civilian areas in Israel.

Israel says it has inflicted heavy damage on Hamas' military infrastructure, including a vast network of militant tunnels it refers to as the "Metro."

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