Biden and Netanyahu discuss Gaza hostilities, applaud hostage release

US President, Joe Biden, had a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, last Sunday to discuss the state of affairs in Gaza. The White House reported that the President expressed his appreciation for the recent release of hostages by Hamas in the past few days, which included a young American woman.

The two leaders engaged in talks about the cessation of hostilities and the necessity of additional humanitarian aid for Gaza. The Prime Minister expressed gratitude to the President for his relentless efforts in mediating and enforcing this agreement," the White House statement read.

The statement further included, "Both leaders concurred that the task is not finished. They pledged to continue their efforts to secure the release of all hostages and agreed to maintain close communication in the days to come."

Prime Minister Netanyahu, in his address to the Israeli media, stated, "I have communicated to the president my willingness to prolong the current ceasefire. However, at its conclusion, the Israeli military's ground operation will resume with full intensity."

"We repatriated another group of hostages, comprised of women and children. The whole nation shares my deep emotion upon witnessing these family reunions," the Israeli Prime Minister highlighted in a video statement.

Netanyahu disclosed his proposal to President Biden to extend the current four-day ceasefire incrementally, "for every additional day, another 10 hostages" could be released. He further stressed that after the ceasefire concludes, his administration would press on to attain its objectives of dismantling Hamas, ensuring that Gaza doesn't revert to its previous state, and achieving the complete release of all Israeli hostages.

"I've also conveyed my assurance to the President that we will accomplish this mission successfully because we simply don't have another option," Netanyahu added.