In a high-stakes telephone call Wednesday, U.S. President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held crucial talks about moving forward with a possible Gaza ceasefire and freeing hostages currently being held there by Hamas militants. The conversation highlights the ongoing effort at U.S. diplomacy in trying to cool down a very flammable situation in the region, as it faces the complications of bridging the gap between Israel and Hamas, and of course, lashes from the world.
The call comes after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s recent visit to the Middle East in a diplomatic push that generated a lot of discussions but didn’t bring any concrete truce agreement at the end. With regional tensions continuing to simmer, Biden underscored the urgency of reaching an agreement that could end the violence and free the hostages safely.
The United States advanced its “bridging proposal,” according to mediators—Egypt and Qatar—to close gaps between the parties in conflict. Deeply involved in the peace process, even while continuing a family vacation in California, is President Biden, who is placing an emphasis on a Gaza ceasefire. The vice president, Kamala Harris, was also on the call, underscoring the high level at which the United States remains committed to solving the situation.
According to sources close to the discussion, Biden asked that Netanyahu ease Israel’s opposition to their forces staying on a contentious land corridor between Egypt and Gaza—a main sticking point thus far in the negotiating process. The situation remains fluid, and the international community will be watching whether these efforts will yield a breakthrough or not.
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