Biden discusses hostage exchange, firmly emphasizes stance on Rafah incursion during Sunday's call with Netanyahu
On Sunday, a White House readout revealed that President Biden discussed Israel's potential invasion of Rafah with Prime Minister Netanyahu. Although the invasion was brought up, the main focus of their conversation was on negotiations to free the hostages being held by Hamas.
Biden and Netanyahu exchanged views on the recent videos released showing two American civilians being held captive. They also touched upon the joint statement from 18 country leaders, urging Hamas to agree to a ceasefire and hostage deal, as per the readout.
Humanitarian assistance was another topic of conversation. According to the readout, both leaders talked about increasing the delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza, particularly through the opening of northern crossings starting the same week.
The US continues to press for a clear and actionable plan from Israel regarding protecting civilians in Rafah. However, Israel has made it clear that any invasion of Rafah, where over a million people are seeking shelter, will not happen without the US' concerns being addressed.
Kirby, the White House National Security communications adviser, stated that the US is currently working on an agreement that would involve a temporary ceasefire and the release of hostages. If successful, this agreement could result in six weeks of peace. After this period, they hope to negotiate a more permanent solution.
In addition to discussion about Rafah, Biden's commitment to Israel's security was once again reaffirmed, coming days after he signed a law that includes $26 billion in aid for Israel. The law also covers $61 billion in aid for Ukraine and $8 billion for the Indo-Pacific.
Biden expressed his disapproval of the overall humanitarian situation in Gaza during a previous phone call with Netanyahu this month, urging Israel to take action to address the crisis before facing consequences. This marked a strong stance against Israel's actions, considering their close relationship.
Towards the end of this month, Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to visit the region to talk with leaders about the ongoing ceasefire and hostage negotiations. Lastly, in a recent conversation with Netanyahu, Biden pledged to remain steadfastly committed to Israel's security.
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Source: edition.cnn.com
