Biden Urges Immediate Ceasefire in Call with Netanyahu, White House Reports
Biden Urges Immediate Ceasefire in Call with Netanyahu, White House Reports
According to the White House, US President Joe Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday (Jan 12). US officials are striving to finalize a deal concerning hostages in Gaza and a ceasefire before Biden’s term ends on Jan 20.
During their phone call, Biden and Netanyahu talked about ongoing efforts to establish a halt to the conflicts in the Palestinian territory and secure the release of the remaining hostages, as noted in a White House statement.
The statement indicated that Biden emphasized the urgent requirement for a ceasefire in Gaza and the return of hostages, along with a rise in humanitarian aid that could be facilitated by a cessation of hostilities as part of the agreement.
Netanyahu informed Biden about the advancements in the negotiations and the directive he has given to his senior security team, which is currently in Doha, to expedite a hostage agreement, as noted in a statement.
The leaders also delved into “the substantially altered regional conditions following the ceasefire arrangement in Lebanon, the downfall of the Assad regime in Syria, and the decline of Iran’s influence in the area,” stated the White House.
Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, shared with CNN’s “State of the Union” program earlier on Sunday that the involved parties are “very, very close” to achieving a deal, yet it still requires finalization.
Sullivan mentioned that Biden is receiving daily briefings on the negotiations occurring in Doha, where officials from Israel and Palestine have indicated that some progress has been made in the indirect discussions with Hamas since Thursday.
“We remain committed to utilizing every available day in office to achieve this,” Sullivan remarked, “and we are, by no means, putting this on the back burner.”
He acknowledged the possibility of finalizing an agreement before Biden’s term concludes, noting that it is conceivable that “Hamas, in particular, might remain unyielding.”
During their conversation, Netanyahu expressed gratitude to Biden for his enduring support for Israel and “the remarkable assistance from the United States for Israel’s security and defense needs,” as the White House stated.
Israel commenced its military action in Gaza after Hamas militants breached its borders in October 2023, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 individuals and the abduction of over 250 hostages, according to Israeli estimates.
Since that time, more than 46,000 fatalities have been reported in Gaza by Palestinian health authorities, with much of the area destroyed and facing a humanitarian crisis, displacing the majority of its residents.
Vice President-elect JD Vance mentioned in an interview recorded on Saturday for the “Fox News Sunday” program that he anticipates an announcement about a deal to release US hostages in the Middle East in the final days of Biden’s presidency, perhaps within the last day or two.
President-elect Donald Trump, a strong advocate for Israel, has firmly supported Netanyahu’s objective of dismantling Hamas. He has pledged to achieve peace in the Middle East, though he has not outlined how he intends to do so.
Source: Reuters
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