Read about: Biden Engages Netanyahu Amid High-Stakes Gaza Negotiations
The ceasefire and captive release deal formed part of a key phone call President Joe Biden had with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday. The talk also covered diplomacy efforts to calm tensions in the region. The call during crunch time of the Gaza ceasefire negotiations occurred in between with Kamala Harris, Vice President being a member. It came after Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned that the deal might be a last opportunity.
For Biden, who was vacationing in Santa Ynez, California, the call could mean a final chapter.
Narrow stretch of land in Gaza, is one of the big issues at stake as talks continue The Israeli media reported that under the proposal, Israel would evacuate from that region.
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But Netanyahu's office promptly rejected talk of an exit, saying Israel would not end its military campaign until it had achieved what he said was the main goal — to secure the frontier with Gaza against infiltration by Hamas and other Palestinian militants.
That rejection appeared to run counter to prior remarks by Blinken who previously said Netanyahu had acquiesced in the troop pullbacks as part of a bridging document designed to get Israel and Hamas closer a truce.
Washington is now driving behind a ceasefire to stop the fighting in Gaza and release Israeli prisoners from Hamas. High-level talks continue; top Trump to return Advertiser disclosure: Crisis Group's work is funded by gifts and grants from a wide range of supporters around the world.
The Pentagon has already sent a carrier strike group and bomber task force to the Middle East, which likely will exacerbate those fears of an Iranian attack. This comes after an assassination of a Hamas chief in Tehran for which Iran has promised to strike back.