Biden and Netanyahu push for ceasefire amid escalating conflict

On Thursday, President of the United States Joe Biden welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House. After their meeting, the leaders plan to meet with the families of those abducted by Hamas. Additionally, Netanyahu anticipates talks with Vice President Kamala Harris. The central topic of these meetings will be an attempt to negotiate a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip conflict.

During a brief welcome in the Oval Office, Netanyahu expressed gratitude to Biden for his fifty years of public service and for his longstanding support for Israel. Biden, having announced on Sunday his decision not to run for another term, endorsed Harris in the upcoming November elections.

Netanyahu also expressed hope for productive cooperation with Biden for the remainder of his term. "We have a lot to discuss," noted Biden. The leaders did not respond to numerous press questions and proceeded to the closed portion of the meeting.

This is the first direct meeting between the two leaders since the U.S. president visited Israel shortly after the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. As a result, about 1,200 people were killed, and the Gaza Strip conflict escalated. Issues related to a ceasefire and the release of hostages are key elements of Thursday's talks.

As stated to journalists by U.S. government spokesman Matthew Miller, Biden's message to Netanyahu is: "the time has come to make a deal." "These have been tough negotiations, we have made progress, the framework of the agreement is ready. We now need to agree on the final differences and reach an agreement," added Miller, in a quote published by the Times of Israel.

The talks include representatives from both sides: U.S., Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, and Israel, Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer and National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi.

Information from within the U.S. government, given on Wednesday, indicated that ceasefire negotiations are at an advanced stage. Despite earlier declarations of success, differences of opinion between the parties have so far hindered the finalization of the agreement, recalled Reuters.

Particularly scrutinized will be Netanyahu's meeting with Harris, who publicly declares that she holds the same views on Israel and Gaza as Biden, though according to many observers, she is more critical of the authorities in Jerusalem than the sitting president.

U.S. support for the conflict in the Gaza Strip, where over 39,000 Palestinians have already died, has caused divisions within the Democratic Party and protests in the country.