President Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed the issue by phone. According to the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, Netanyahu informed his American counterpart about the progress of the negotiations and the mandate given to the Israeli negotiators.
According to a statement from the White House, President Biden emphasized the urgency of a cease-fire in Gaza and the return of the hostages, as well as the importance of increasing humanitarian aid, which would be made possible by a cessation of fighting.
White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan struck a cautiously optimistic tone in an interview with CNN:
We are very, very close (to the Gaza agreement) and yet far because we are not there yet. It is possible that it will be done before January 20 – but I cannot be sure.
In order to promote negotiations both sides sent high-ranking representatives to Doha. Biden’s chief adviser on the Middle East, Brett McGurk, has been in the Qatari capital for a week, while Trump’s agent, Steve Witkoff, arrived a few days ago. Witkoff also visited Netanyahu in Israel on Saturday before returning to Doha.
On the Israeli side, Mossad Director David Barnea, Shin Bet (Israeli Internal Security Service) Chief Ronen Bar and IDF General Nitzan Alon also traveled to Doha on Saturday to facilitate the agreement.
The peculiarity of the situation is indicated by the fact that Biden’s team works closely with Trump’s staff, and both sides are working together to reach an agreement, US officials say.
Cover image source: Reuters
Source: www.portfolio.hu
