U.S. President Joe Biden discussed the proposed ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip and the exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a phone call. Netanyahu's office stated that "the Prime Minister informed Biden of his decision to send a delegation to continue negotiations for the release of the abductees and reiterated the principles that Israel adheres to, foremost among them being Israel's commitment not to end the war until all its objectives are met."
The White House issued a statement saying that "Biden spoke this morning with Prime Minister Netanyahu, and they discussed ongoing efforts to finalize a ceasefire agreement along with the release of hostages, as outlined by the President and supported by the United Nations Security Council, the G7, and countries around the world."
The American statement added: "The leaders discussed Hamas's recent response, and Biden welcomed Netanyahu's decision to allow his negotiators to engage with American, Qatari, and Egyptian mediators in an effort to finalize the deal." The White House continued: "Biden reaffirmed his strong commitment to Israel's security, including in the face of threats posed by Iran-backed terrorist groups such as Hezbollah."
On Wednesday, Netanyahu's office announced that Israel had received Hamas's latest response to an Israeli proposal, and that it will be studied on Thursday. Media sources indicated "signs of a breakthrough" in the stalled deal that has been under negotiation for months.
