Biden keeps to 'quiet diplomacy' as calls for Israel-Hamas cease-fire ramp up

President Joe Biden on Tuesday continued to embrace "quiet diplomacy" as calls for Israel-Hamas cease-fire ramped up.

The White House on Tuesday continued to insist private, diplomatic conversations were the best way the United States could help broker an end to fighting between Israel and Hamas, and despite saying the day before President Joe Biden supported a cease-fire, it provided no details on what or when the president wanted that to happen and he has yet to say so publicly. On Monday, in a carefully worded statement, the White House said Biden "expressed his support for a ceasefire" during a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. At the same time, the president has repeatedly issued strong and public messages of support for Israel since the current spate of violence dramatically escalated eight days ago. Biden has kept the United States' role largely limited to telephone diplomacy, supported by a mid-level State Department official sent to the region and conversations with countries like Egypt and Qatar that typically have a role in brokering deals with Hamas.