The White House disclosed that President Biden had a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, emphasizing the urgency for a resolution regarding the Israeli hostages held by Hamas and the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Biden's call aimed to press Israel against its plans to invade Rafah, Gaza's southern city, and underscored the importance of maintaining the flow of humanitarian aid to the war-torn region. The US administration's stance against the invasion on humanitarian grounds has led to strained relations between the traditional allies.
Furthermore, Biden stressed the necessity for continuous progress in providing humanitarian assistance to Gaza during the conversation with Netanyahu. The focus of the call was on urging Hamas to accept the latest negotiation offers to contribute to a potential resolution, as per a US official's statement. The conversation lasted nearly an hour, and the need for Hamas's cooperation was highlighted, although there was no immediate response from Netanyahu's office.
Meanwhile, a senior official from Qatar, a key mediator in the region, urged both Israel and Hamas to show more commitment and seriousness in negotiations. Qatar, along with the US and Egypt, played a pivotal role in brokering a temporary truce last November that led to the release of several hostages. However, in a sign of growing frustration, Qatar recently announced a reassessment of its involvement in the negotiations, indicating a need for a renewed push towards peace talks.