The White House said the two leaders discussed Israel’s military operation in Gaza, including its “goals and phases.”

US President Joe Biden said he did not ask Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza in a phone call between the two leaders.

“I had a long conversation with Netanyahu today [Saturday] and it was a private conversation,” Biden told reporters on Saturday.

“I didn’t ask for a ceasefire,” he said in response to a shouted question.

In a later statement, the White House said Biden and Netanyahu discussed Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, including its “goals and phases.”

Biden “emphasized the urgent need to protect civilians, including those supporting the humanitarian relief operation, and the importance of allowing civilians to safely escape areas of ongoing fighting,” the statement said.

“The leaders discussed the importance of ensuring the release of all remaining hostages.”

The call between the two leaders came a day after the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) adopted a resolution calling for an increase in aid to Gaza, but which did not call for a ceasefire or a pause in weeks of fighting became.

The resolution, which called for “immediate, safe and unhindered” deliveries of life-saving aid “on a large scale” to Gaza, was passed after UN Security Council members argued for days over the wording and weakened some provisions at Washington’s urging.

The United States and Russia abstained from the vote, which aid organizations on the ground believe will have a significant impact close to zero.

“This resolution has been watered down to such an extent that its impact on the lives of civilians in Gaza will be almost meaningless,” Avril Benoit, the executive director of Doctors Without Borders, said in a statement.

“The way Israel is waging this war with US support is causing massive death and suffering among Palestinian civilians and is contrary to international norms and laws,” Benoit added.

The US also resisted calls to set up a UN monitoring mechanism for aid deliveries and assured Israel that it would continue to play a role in controlling supplies.

Netanyahu on Saturday “expressed his appreciation” for the U.S. stance at the United Nations, his office said. He also “made it clear that Israel will continue the war until all of its goals are achieved.”

More than 200 dead in 24 hours

Israel has continued to bomb Gaza for almost 80 days killed more than 200 people in the last 24 hours.

Gaza’s health ministry said the death toll since the attacks began on Saturday had risen to 20,258, most of them women and children.

The United Nations estimates that the war has displaced 1.9 million of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents.

The UN has described the situation in Gaza as “more than catastrophic“, with residents struggling to find food, fuel and water while living in overcrowded shelters or tents.

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“It is extremely tragic that politics prevents the survival of 2.2 million people in Gaza,” UNRWA spokeswoman Tamara al-Rifai said at a press conference on Saturday.