President Joe Biden has told Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu that an “immediate ceasefire is essential” in the Gaza war.

Biden has urged Israel to reach a deal without delay, speaking to Netanyahu over the phone.

The White House has just published an official record of the call between the two. Netanyahu's office is yet to issue its readout of the call.

The pair discussed the ongoing situation in the Middle East, with Biden "emphasising that the strikes on humanitarian workers and the overall humanitarian situation are unacceptable".

During the 30-minute call, the US president "made clear the need" for Israel to implement "concrete" steps to stop civilian harm and ensure the safety of aid workers.

He told Netanyahu that US support for Israel could cease if this was not implemented.

Discussing the protection of humanitarian staff, after the deaths of seven aid workers in an Israeli air strike, the White House said: "President Biden emphasised that the strikes on humanitarian workers and the overall humanitarian situation are unacceptable.

"He made clear the need for Israel to announce and implement a series of specific, concrete, and measurable steps to address civilian harm, humanitarian suffering, and the safety of aid workers.

"He made clear that US policy with respect to Gaza will be determined by our assessment of Israel’s immediate action on these steps."

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated Biden's message whilst speaking at a Nato meeting in Brussels this evening.

"Israel is a democracy. Hamas, is a terrorist organisation, and democracies place, the highest value on human life - every human life," he said.

"As has been said, whoever saves the life saves the entire world. That's our strength. It's what distinguishes us from terrorists like Hamas.

"If we lose that reverence for human life, we risk becoming indistinguishable from those we confront."

More to follow...