President Joe Biden conveyed to Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu in a phone call on Tuesday that, after the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon, the focus should now shift to securing the release of hostages and establishing a ceasefire in Gaza, according to two U.S. officials speaking to Barak Ravid of Axios on Wednesday.
Currently, there are 101 hostages in Hamas’ custody in Gaza, including seven American citizens.
U.S. officials informed Axios that Biden is determined to work towards a hostage release deal throughout the remainder of his presidency, even if President-elect Donald Trump ultimately gains credit for any resulting agreement.
“Biden thinks that doing nothing and telling the hostage families to wait until Jan. 20 would be crazy,” a Biden aide told the outlet.
The conversation between Biden and Netanyahu, which took place shortly after Israel’s Security Cabinet approved the Lebanon ceasefire, was reportedly brief. Apart from discussing Lebanon, the call was centered on efforts to broker a hostage deal and achieve a ceasefire in Gaza.
“We have an opportunity now. Let’s get the hostages,” Biden reportedly told Netanyahu. U.S. officials noted that Netanyahu responded favorably, showing a willingness to pursue this initiative.
Israeli and U.S. officials believe that the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon has strengthened the chances of a deal in Gaza, even if it results in only the first phase—releasing some hostages.
A senior Israeli Cabinet minister told Axios that Netanyahu is open to a partial hostage agreement that does not require ending the war or fully withdrawing Israeli forces from Gaza.
“There is an intention to make a renewed effort to get a deal in Gaza. It was clear that the war in Lebanon had to end first. Now Hamas is in a weaker position because Hezbollah is out of the war,” the minister said.
The Prime Minister’s Office declined to comment on the report.
Earlier on Wednesday, Hamas issued an official statement expressing its willingness to negotiate a deal to end the war that began after it launched an attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
However, in the same statement, Hamas reiterated that any agreement must include the cessation of hostilities and a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
Israel and Hamas have conducted several rounds of indirect talks, with mediation from the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar, in an attempt to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and secure the release of hostages held by Hamas since the October 7, 2023 massacre.
The U.S. had previously pushed for a ceasefire and hostage release deal first proposed by President Joe Biden in May, but Hamas rejected that proposal, as well as every subsequent offer made.
Recently, Egypt proposed a two-day ceasefire deal in which four Israeli hostages would be released in exchange for terrorist prisoners held in Israel. Following this, negotiations would take place over a more comprehensive deal.
Initially, Hamas rejected a proposal for a short-term ceasefire that would see the return of some hostages before the fighting resumed. However, later reports from Hamas sources to Asharq Al-Awsat indicated that the terrorist organization might consider Egypt’s proposal and other offers.
{Matzav.com}