Mr. Biden strives to bring the Gaza negotiations ‘to the finish line’ before the White House changes ownership

According to a statement from the White House, President Biden and Prime Minister Netanyahu discussed ongoing negotiations in Qatar regarding efforts to promote a ceasefire and release hostages. Mr. Biden emphasized the urgent need for a ceasefire in Gaza, the release of hostages and increased humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Mr. Netanyahu updated Mr. Biden on the progress of negotiations and the tasks that the Israeli prime minister assigned to this country’s delegation when they arrived in Doha city (Qatar) to reach consensus on a ceasefire between Israel and the armed forces. Hamas forces in Gaza.

Among the members of the Israeli negotiating delegation are Director of the Israeli Intelligence Agency (Mossad) David Barnea, Director of the Israeli Security Agency (Shin Bet) Ronen Bar, and the military’s official in charge of hostage issues. Israel Nitzan Alon and political advisor to Mr. Netanyahu Ophir Falk. According to The Times of Israel, the dispatch of the above high-ranking figures is a sign that negotiations are in an extremely serious stage.

President Biden’s administration is said to be trying in the final days of his term to get Israel and Hamas to sign a ceasefire agreement, which has gone through many discussions but failed. Before the phone call between the two leaders of the US and Israel, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on January 12 gave an interview to CNN, saying that the sides were “very close” to an agreement, but it still needed to be brought forward. to the finish line.

“We remain determined to utilize every day in office to accomplish this goal and we will not set it aside,” Mr. Sullivan said.

In addition to the Gaza issue, Mr. Biden and Netanyahu discussed fundamental changes in the Middle East context after the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon, the collapse of the government of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and its influence. of Iran in the region.