Biden Stresses Urgency of Cease-Fire and Hostage Release in Call With Netanyahu

President Joe Biden has spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about ending the ongoing war in Gaza and de-escalating tensions in the region, the White House has said.

According to an Aug. 21 statement from the White House, Biden had a phone call with Netanyahu and discussed the urgency of locking in a cease-fire and hostage release deal with Hamas sooner rather than later.
The two world leaders and allies also discussed obstacles to implementing such a deal at the upcoming talks in Cairo.

Hamas, a recognised terrorist organization, has controlled Gaza since 2006 but has refused to participate in the latest round of talks. Qatar is representing them through proxy. Israel will send a delegation and Egypt will mediate the negotiations alongside the United States and Qatar.

White House spokesperson Emilie Simons confirmed in an Aug. 21 statement on X that Biden “spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel to discuss the cease-fire and hostage release deal and diplomatic efforts to de-escalate regional tensions.”

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