President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are continuing to push for a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, with Vice President Harris urging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to finalize a deal to end the conflict. Negotiators for Israel and Hamas are said to be close to reaching a deal that would bring an end to the nearly 10-month-old war and secure the release of remaining hostages taken by Hamas during their attacks on southern Israel last October.
President Biden announced on July 12 that both Israeli and Hamas negotiators had committed to a cease-fire framework, although Mr. Netanyahu did not mention these talks in his recent address to the U.S. Congress. Following the address, both the president and vice president held separate meetings with Mr. Netanyahu at the White House, where they reiterated the importance of peace talks.
During her meeting with Mr. Netanyahu, Vice President Harris expressed concerns about the humanitarian situation in Gaza, emphasizing the need to address the suffering of civilians in the region. She also condemned the attacks carried out by Hamas and reiterated Israel’s right to defend itself while emphasizing the importance of doing so in a way that minimizes civilian casualties.
Mr. Netanyahu has made it clear that he seeks to eliminate Hamas and secure the release of all hostages taken in the October attacks. Hamas, on the other hand, has been pushing for a deal that would require Israeli forces to leave Gaza in exchange for the hostages. Despite these differing demands, the Biden administration has been advocating for a cease-fire deal as the best way forward.
Vice President Harris emphasized the need to finalize the agreement during her meeting with Mr. Netanyahu, urging both parties to work towards bringing the conflict to an end. While Mr. Netanyahu has yet to offer any public comment following his meeting with the vice president, the Biden administration remains committed to achieving a peaceful resolution to the conflict in the Gaza Strip.
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