President Joe Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday as the United States continues its efforts to mediate between Israel and Hamas. The goal is to reach a "bridging proposal" that could lead to a cease-fire in the ongoing Gaza conflict. However, significant challenges remain, particularly over the presence of Israeli troops in strategic areas of Gaza.
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Vice President Harris Joins the Call
Vice President Kamala Harris, who was in Chicago for the Democratic National Convention, also joined the conversation. The White House released a statement highlighting that Biden stressed the urgency of finalizing the ceasefire and hostage release deal. High-level talks in Cairo this week, involving mediators from the U.S., Israel, Egypt, and Qatar, were also discussed as a means to address remaining obstacles.
Hopes for a Deal Fade
Initially optimistic, President Biden had expressed hope for a resolution after speaking with key figures such as Qatar's emir and Egypt's president. However, by Tuesday, his tone had shifted, acknowledging that Hamas seemed to be retreating from the agreement. Despite this, Biden assured reporters that the U.S. would continue pushing for a cease-fire deal.
Biden's Call from California
The president’s call with Netanyahu took place while he was vacationing with his family in Santa Ynez, California, at the estate of Democratic donor Joe Kiani. During the call, Biden and Netanyahu also addressed rising tensions between Israel and Iran, as well as with militant groups backed by Tehran, including Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis.
Efforts to Overcome Obstacles
Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently met with officials in Israel, Egypt, and Qatar, setting the stage for new talks in Cairo later this week. Blinken described the moment as possibly the last opportunity to secure a ceasefire, bring hostages home, and establish a path to lasting peace and security.
Hamas' Reluctance to Agree
Egyptian officials have indicated that Hamas remains hesitant to agree to the bridging proposal. The plan involves Hamas releasing the most vulnerable civilian hostages as a first step, with further phases to be negotiated without guaranteed concessions from Israel. A major sticking point is the ambiguity around Israel's military withdrawal from two strategic corridors in Gaza.
00:00President Joe Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday as the United States continues to press Israel and Hamas to agree on a bridging proposal that could pave the way for a ceasefire in Gaza.
00:13Despite ongoing efforts, significant differences remain between Hamas and Israel, particularly concerning the presence of Israeli troops in two key corridors in Gaza.
00:23These challenges have dimmed Biden's hopes for a quick resolution.
00:27Vice President Kamala Harris, currently in Chicago for the Democratic National Convention, also participated in the call.
00:35The White House emphasized that Biden stressed the urgency of finalizing the ceasefire and hostage release deal.
00:42Both leaders discussed leveraging high-level talks in Cairo involving mediators from the U.S., Israel, Egypt, and Qatar to address the remaining obstacles.
00:53However, the chances of reaching a deal in the near term appear to be fading.
00:57While Biden was optimistic last Friday after speaking with Qatar's emir and Egypt's president, his tone had noticeably shifted by Tuesday.
01:06Speaking to reporters, he noted that Hamas seemed to be retreating from the deal but assured that the U.S. would continue pushing for an agreement.
01:14The president's call with Netanyahu took place from Santa Ynez, California, where Biden is vacationing with his family at the expansive estate of Democratic donor Joe Kiani.
01:24In their discussion, Biden and Netanyahu also addressed rising tensions between Israel and Iran, as well as with militant groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, all of which are supported by Tehran.
01:38This call followed a series of meetings by Secretary of State Antony Blinken with officials in Israel, Egypt, and Qatar and comes ahead of new talks in Cairo later this week.
01:48Blinken described this moment as potentially the best and last opportunity to secure a ceasefire, bring hostages home, and set a course for lasting peace and security after meeting with Netanyahu and Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Tel Aviv.
02:04Egyptian officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, indicated that Hamas is unwilling to agree to the bridging proposal.
02:12The plan involves Hamas releasing the most vulnerable civilian hostages as a first step, with further phases to be negotiated without guaranteed concessions from Israel.
02:22A key sticking point is the proposal's ambiguity on Israel's military withdrawal from two strategic corridors in Gaza, the Philadelphia Corridor along the Egyptian border and the Netzerim Corridor crossing the territory.
02:35While Israel has offered to reduce its presence in the Philadelphia Corridor with promises to withdraw, Hamas insists on a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
02:45Earlier this week, Netanyahu met with right-wing groups representing families of fallen soldiers and hostages in Gaza who oppose a ceasefire.
02:54The groups claimed that Netanyahu assured them Israel would not abandon the two strategic corridors, though his office did not comment on the meeting.
03:03Blinken, after his meetings in Egypt and Qatar, stated that the bridging proposal clearly outlines the schedule and locations for Israeli military withdrawals from Gaza, though no specific details have been publicly shared.
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