The White House announced that President Joe Biden urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during their meeting in Washington on Thursday, to reach a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip as soon as possible. The U.S. presidency stated in a press release that "President Biden expressed the need to close the remaining gaps and finalize the agreement promptly, return the hostages home, and reach a lasting end to the war in Gaza."
Additionally, the statement mentioned that the president and his guest "discussed in detail the developments in Gaza and the ongoing negotiations regarding the ceasefire and the release of hostages." According to the statement, Biden and Netanyahu also talked about the "humanitarian crisis" in Gaza and the necessity of removing obstacles that hinder the flow of humanitarian aid to the region.
Biden emphasized to Netanyahu, according to the statement, the "crucial importance of protecting civilian lives during military operations." He also reaffirmed "the United States' steadfast commitment to Israel's security in the face of all threats from Iran and its proxies, including Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis."
