Biden and Netanyahu are in talks to secure a ceasefire and hostage release in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war as tensions rise.
Deir Al-Balah: So, Biden and Netanyahu had a chat about the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. They’re trying to figure out a ceasefire and how to get hostages released. This is all happening right before Trump takes office next week, which adds some pressure.
These talks have been going on for a while, with the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar trying to mediate. They’ve hit some bumps, but lately, U.S. officials are feeling a bit hopeful about reaching an agreement.
During their call, both leaders were in touch while key Israeli and U.S. officials were in Doha. This means that the folks who need to sign off on any deal are now part of the discussions.
Biden’s adviser, Jake Sullivan, mentioned that they’re working on the final details of a proposal. He didn’t want to make any promises about getting it done by January 20, though. He said they’re close, but close doesn’t mean it’s a done deal yet.
It’s been a tough 15 months, with just one brief ceasefire achieved early on. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said a deal is “very close” and he hopes to wrap it up before Trump takes over.
Right now, they’re discussing a phased ceasefire. Netanyahu seems to be okay with a partial hostage release in exchange for a temporary halt in fighting, but Hamas wants a full Israeli troop withdrawal.
There are still a lot of details to work out, like which hostages will be released first and what will happen with Palestinian prisoners. The situation is dire, with over 46,000 Palestinians reported dead due to the conflict, many of whom are women and children.
Families of the hostages are really pushing for a deal to bring their loved ones home. In Tel Aviv, people rallied with photos of the hostages, showing just how much this means to them.
Meanwhile, in Gaza, people are feeling pretty hopeless. They hear about negotiations but don’t see any real change. One resident said they’ll believe it when they see it on the ground.
