Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed by phone with US President Joe Biden “progress in negotiations” to reach an agreement for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and for the release of hostages held by “Hamas“, reported Agence France-Presse, quoted by BTA, referring to a statement from the Israeli Prime Minister's Office.
“The Prime Minister discussed with the US President the progress in the negotiations for the release of our hostages and informed him of the instructions he has given to the negotiating team in Doha, aimed at achieving progress in the release of the hostages,“ the statement said.
Biden, for his part, “stressed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the return of hostages, as well as for the increase in (deliveries of) humanitarian assistance, which will be made possible by the ceasefire under the agreement“, the White House said in a statement.
The two also discussed “the radically changed regional situation following (the signing of) the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon, the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, and the weakening of Iran in the region“, the White House also announced.
The conversation between Biden and Netanyahu took place a day after the Israeli prime minister's office announced that a delegation of high-ranking officials was leaving for the Qatari capital Doha.
Negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian group “Hamas“ were resumed last week in Qatar, but so far the Israeli side has not been represented by high-ranking officials, AFP notes.