Washington:
US President Joe Biden spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday and “reviewed ongoing discussions” about the release of hostages taken by Hamas during its attack on Israel on October 7, the White House said.
The two allies “reviewed ongoing discussions to secure the release of hostages, along with an immediate ceasefire in Gaza,” the White House statement said, while intensifying diplomatic efforts to secure a long-sought to reach a ceasefire in the war-torn region.
The Israeli government is under intense pressure from its global allies to reach a ceasefire, as well as from demonstrators within Israel demanding the release of hostages captured by the Palestinian group in the attack that sparked the war .
Egypt, Qatar and the United States have been trying to reach a new truce for months.
Biden and Netanyahu “also discussed increasing the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Gaza, including through preparations to open new northern border crossings starting this week,” the statement said.
“The President emphasized the need to support and strengthen this progress in full coordination with humanitarian organizations,” the report said.
As humanitarian organizations increasingly warn of a crisis in Gaza, Israel is under increasing pressure – globally and specifically from the United States – to allow more aid into the area.
Biden also “reiterated his clear position” on any Israeli attack on the southern Gaza city of Rafah, the statement said.
Netanyahu has vowed to send troops to Rafah, where more than 1.5 million civilians have taken refuge.
While the Biden administration supports Israel, it has repeatedly expressed alarm over the heavy toll on civilians in the Gaza offensive and urged Israel to hold off any attack on Rafah.
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