Biden and Netanyahu discussed prospects for a ceasefire in Gaza
US President Joe Biden discussed with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the prospects of concluding ceasefire agreements in the Gaza Strip. This is stated in a statement published on the website of the White House on January 12.
It is specified that the U.S. President and the head of the Israeli government discussed the ongoing negotiations in Doha on a ceasefire and the release of hostages on the basis of the agreement of May 27, 2024.
In turn, Biden noted the fundamentally changed circumstances after the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon, the fall of the regime of former President Bashar al-Assad in Syria and the weakening of Iran's power in the region. He also pointed to the need for a ceasefire in Gaza and the return of hostages.
On this day, the media reported that US President-elect Donald Trump wants to secure a Middle East deal between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement before his inauguration. The outlet's sources said Israel and Hamas have made progress in talks in recent days, but contentious issues still remain.
Earlier, on January 10, Netanyahu's office confirmed to Izvestia Tel Aviv's desire to conclude an exchange deal in the near future and contacts with mediators on the issue. The agreement implies, among other things, the exchange of kidnapped Israeli citizens for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
Prior to that, on January 5, it was reported that Israel was waiting for Hamas to agree to a hostage deal. According to media reports, all the details have actually already been determined and the deal could be finalized in the coming weeks.
The situation in the Middle East escalated on the morning of October 7, 2023, when the Palestinian radical movement Hamas subjected Israel's territory to a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. On the same day, Israel began retaliatory strikes.
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