WASHINGTON — US President Joe Biden spoke on Saturday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in a bid to de-escalate the ongoing conflict in the region. The US president’s calls to the Israeli and Palestinian leaders came after Israeli forces destroyed a high-rise building housing several international media offices in the Gaza Strip on Saturday. Meanwhile, at least 145 Palestinians, including dozens of children, have been killed in Gaza since the fighting between Israel and Hamas began on Monday, Palestinian health officials said on Saturday while nine people, including two children, have been killed by Hamas rockets in Israel. In his phone call with the Israeli PM, the US president reaffirmed his strong support for Israel’s right to defend itself against rocket attacks from Hamas and other terrorist groups in Gaza, according to a statement from the White House. He condemned the indiscriminate attacks against towns and cities across Israel. Biden also raised concerns about civilian casualties in Gaza and the bombing of the building that housed the Associated Press and other media offices. The US president shared his grave concern about the intercommunal violence across Israel. He voiced his concern about violent confrontations in the West Bank and expressed his support for steps to enable the Palestinian people to enjoy the dignity, security, freedom, and economic opportunity that they deserve and affirmed his support for a two-state solution. Biden and Netanyahu agreed to continue the close consultation between their teams and to remain in touch in the days ahead, according to the statement. In his phone call with Abbas, Biden conveyed the commitment to strengthening the US-Palestinian partnership. They discussed the current tensions in Jerusalem and the West Bank and expressed their shared desire for Jerusalem to be a place of peaceful coexistence for people of all faiths and backgrounds. The US president updated Abbas on US diplomatic engagement on the ongoing conflict and stressed the need for Hamas to cease firing rockets into Israel. Biden expressed his support for steps to enable the Palestinian people to enjoy the dignity, security, freedom, and economic opportunity that they deserve. In that regard, he highlighted the recent US decision to resume assistance to the Palestinian people, including economic and humanitarian assistance to benefit Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. Biden also underscored his strong commitment to a negotiated two-state solution as the best path to reach a just and lasting resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. — Agencies