President Joe Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss efforts to reach a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza before Biden leaves office on Jan. 20. They stressed the immediate need for a ceasefire, the return of hostages, and a surge in humanitarian aid. Netanyahu updated Biden on progress and the efforts of his security delegation in Doha. The two leaders also discussed regional circumstances, including the fall of the Assad regime in Syria and the weakening of Iran’s power.
Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, stated that they were very close to reaching a deal but still needed to finalize it. He mentioned that daily updates were being provided to Biden on the negotiations in Doha, and that they were determined to continue working until a deal was reached. The possibility of Hamas remaining intransigent was also acknowledged.
The conflict in Gaza began when Hamas fighters stormed across Israeli borders, leading to casualties on both sides and a humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Vice President-elect JD Vance expects a deal for the release of U.S. hostages to be announced in the final days of the Biden administration. President-elect Donald Trump, a supporter of Israel, has backed Netanyahu’s goal of destroying Hamas and bringing peace to the Middle East without providing specifics on how this would be achieved.
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