President Biden spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel on Sunday to debate the prospects of a attainable cease-fire deal to acquire the discharge of a few of the remaining hostages held because the Hamas-led terrorist assault of Oct. 7, officers mentioned.
Mr. Biden’s name with the prime minister got here simply hours after Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken left Washington for his newest journey to the Center East. Mr. Blinken will begin in Saudi Arabia, the place he’ll see Egyptian and Qatari officers who’ve served as intermediaries with Hamas within the cease-fire and hostage talks, which have stalled in latest weeks.
Mr. Blinken is predicted to go to Israel whereas within the area this week, though the State Division has not introduced an itinerary past his cease in Riyadh, the place he’ll attend a three-day assembly of the World Financial Discussion board. The secretary has been a crucial participant within the Biden administration’s efforts to dealer a cessation to the struggle, improve humanitarian support and win the discharge of greater than 100 hostages believed to nonetheless be in Gaza.
The decision additionally got here three weeks after Mr. Biden advised Mr. Netanyahu that he would rethink his help for Israel’s struggle except the nation did extra to facilitate the supply of meals and different provides to Gaza and restrict civilian casualties. Since then, humanitarian support to Gaza has elevated considerably, and Biden advisers credit score Israel with responding to the president’s calls for, though U.S. officers acknowledge that the help remains to be not as a lot as is required.
Israel has withdrawn a few of its forces from southern Gaza however says it’s nonetheless planning a serious assault on the southern metropolis of Rafah, the place about a million Palestinians have taken refuge. Biden administration officers have expressed considerations concerning the attainable operation, and Israeli officers have mentioned they’d take that suggestions into consideration and seek the advice of additional with American counterparts.
Underneath the U.S.-sponsored cease-fire proposal, Israel would halt hostilities for six weeks and launch a whole lot of Palestinians held in its prisons in change for the discharge of 40 hostages held by Hamas, primarily ladies, older males and people with well being situations. Later levels of the deal would then prolong the cease-fire and end in extra hostages being freed.
