Biden: 'Imperative to restore access' to north Gaza

US President Joe Biden has told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that it is "imperative" to restore humanitarian aid access to north Gaza, in particular by "reinvigorating the corridor from Jordan immediately", according to a readout of a call between the two leaders. 

In a phone conversation that lasted half an hour, Biden "affirmed his ironclad commitment to Israel’s security" and "condemned unequivocally Iran’s ballistic missile attack against Israel" earlier this month. He was joined by Vice President Kamala Harris on the call. 

"The President affirmed Israel’s right to protect its citizens from Hezbollah, which has fired thousands of missiles and rockets into Israel over the past year alone, while emphasizing the need to minimize harm to civilians, in particular in the densely populated areas of Beirut," the White House readout said.