Netanyahu and Biden Discuss Progress on Gaza Ceasefire and Hostage Negotiations

Monday 13 January 2025 - 08:05

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Joe Biden held discussions on Sunday about the ongoing efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and facilitate the release of hostages. The conversation also emphasized the critical importance of increasing humanitarian aid in the region.

According to a statement from Biden’s office, the president underscored the urgent need for a ceasefire and stressed that the release of hostages should be a priority, facilitated by a halt in hostilities to enable humanitarian assistance.

Netanyahu's office confirmed that the prime minister briefed Biden on the progress of the negotiations, highlighting the instructions given to the Israeli negotiating team based in Doha to advance the efforts for the hostages’ release.

This dialogue came shortly after Israel announced the deployment of a high-level delegation to Qatar to participate in the talks. The delegation includes senior officials, such as the heads of the Mossad and Shin Bet internal security agency, tasked with advancing these negotiations.

The United States, alongside Qatar and Egypt, has been mediating talks for over a year to bring an end to the conflict in Gaza and secure the release of hostages. The ongoing indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas resumed in Qatar last weekend.

Israeli advocacy groups have called these negotiations a “historic opportunity” to ensure the safe return of all hostages. A statement urged negotiators to pursue every possible avenue to secure their release.

The Gaza conflict, triggered by a Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, has resulted in significant casualties on both sides. Israeli fatalities reached 1,210, primarily civilians, according to official figures. Meanwhile, retaliatory military actions in Gaza have claimed over 46,660 lives, the majority of them civilians, as reported by Gaza’s health ministry.