Washington DC – Amid growing pressure from within his own party, President Joe Biden expressed support for a ceasefire on a Monday telephone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"The President expressed his support for a ceasefire and discussed US engagement with Egypt and other partners towards that end," a White House readout of the call stated.

"The two leaders discussed progress in Israel’s military operations against Hamas and other terrorist groups in Gaza," the statement included, reaffirming Biden's pro-Israel stance.

The announcement was released after the US for the third time blocked a UN Security Council joint statement calling for an immediate ceasefire and condemning both sides' attacks on civilians, Axios reported. CNN also revealed that a previously arranged weapons sale to Israel worth $735 million is likely to go through, in spite of a congressional review.

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According to the Middle East Eye, the death toll in Palestine has risen to more than 200, including over 60 children. The UN said the Israeli air strikes have left more than 38,000 internally displaced persons in Gaza.

Ten people in Israel, including two children, have died. Though Hamas has fired thousands of rockets, the overwhelming majority have been intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome defense system.

The Axios report continued, "An Israeli official said the Biden administration hadn't given Israel a deadline for reaching a ceasefire but had been stressing on Monday that it was reaching the end of its ability to hold back international pressure on Israel over the Gaza operation."

But the president isn't just up against international pressure. He is also facing criticism from within his own party for not taking a firmer stance against Israeli state violence.

On Sunday, 28 Democratic senators, led by Jon Ossoff of Georgia, signed a letter calling for a ceasefire, The Hill reported. Among the signees was Dick Durbin of Illinois, the second-highest Democratic leader in the Senate.

Noticeably missing was Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who stands by President Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's assertions that Israel is merely acting in self-defense.

Other notable politicians have spoken out against the US' response to the violence. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, who is Jewish, called Israel's actions "undemocratic" and "racist" in a New York Times op-ed. He added that "the provision of U.S. military aid must not enable human rights abuses."

Michigan Rep. Ilhan Omar deemed Israeli airstrikes "acts of terrorism," while New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez slammed Biden for "reinforc[ing] the false idea that Palestinians instigated this cycle of violence."

Perhaps the most powerful rebuke came from Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib, the first Palestinian-American woman elected to Congress. On Thursday, she delivered a speech on the House floor pleading for Palestinian lives.

Their statements mark the first time Israel has been subject to such a degree of direct criticism in Congress.