US President called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the phone with Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris on the line regarding the fraught hostage negotiations in Doha.
After the US presented mediators and delegates with its “bridging proposal” to close the gaps between Hamas and Israel, Hamas rejected the proposals.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Hamas to accept the deal and encouraged Netanyahu to be more flexible with demands, which the terror group claimed were added to the original hostage release deal.
“President Biden spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel to discuss the ceasefire and hostage release deal and diplomatic efforts to de-escalate regional tensions,” a White House statement said.
It is likely that the White House urged Netanyahu to soften his demands that Israel’s military control the Philadelphi and Netzarim Corridors.
