In a critical phone call on Wednesday, U.S. President Joe Biden emphasized the urgent need for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to conclude a ceasefire-for-hostages deal in Gaza. The White House reported that Biden also highlighted the significance of upcoming talks in Cairo, which are seen as pivotal in overcoming the remaining hurdles in the negotiations.
The call came on the heels of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s recent visit to the Middle East, which ended without an agreement between Israel and Hamas. Despite months of negotiations, a ceasefire deal has remained elusive, with key issues still unresolved.
Biden’s discussions with Netanyahu also touched on broader U.S. support for Israel in the face of threats from Iran and its proxy groups, including Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. The U.S. has responded to the escalating tensions by deploying additional military assets to the region, including a guided missile submarine and the Abraham Lincoln strike group.
Netanyahu’s office, however, denied reports that Israel had agreed to withdraw its troops from the Philadelphi corridor, a strategic strip of land along Gaza’s southern border with Egypt. Hamas is demanding a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, including the corridor, which Israel has held since late May after destroying numerous tunnels used for smuggling weapons.
Biden’s call underscores the high stakes involved in the ongoing negotiations, as both sides continue to grapple with the complex issues at the heart of the conflict.