Biden addresses the leaders of Egypt and Qatar in an effort to secure an armistice in Gaza

President Joe Biden communicated with the leaders of Egypt and Qatar via telephone on Friday, advocating for a ceasefire in Gaza in exchange for hostages. Negotiators convened in Cairo to address the remaining challenges.

Biden engaged in “diplomatic efforts to bring the ceasefire and hostage release deal to a conclusion” during phone calls with Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, according to a White House account of the calls.

Biden is currently spending a week of vacation at a ranch in the Santa Ynez valley of California, where he is intently monitoring the Gaza ceasefire proceedings.

The White House described talks in Cairo aimed at reaching a ceasefire as “constructive” and urged all parties to join together to work toward the implementation of a proposed agreement shortly before Biden’s conversations.

Israel’s demand to maintain its forces along the Philadelphi land corridor between Egypt and Gaza is a contentious issue that is the subject of significant negotiations.

Reporters were informed by White House national security spokesperson John Kirby that negotiations were ongoing on Friday, with CIA Director Bill Burns and U.S. Middle East envoy Brett McGurk representing Washington.

Kirby stated that Hamas militants should be included in the negotiations, which commenced on Thursday and included negotiators from the United States, Israel, Egypt, and Qatar, but not Hamas.

“We are currently in Cairo. In Cairo, they are located. It is imperative that Hamas participate, and we must address the matter of securing these specifics. Kirby stated, “And that is the primary focus of our attention in the upcoming days, particularly of the weekend.”

The discussions in Cairo have been “constructive,” according to him, and he stated that there are plans for additional discussions.

“The negotiations are progressing,” he stated, refuting certain news reports that suggested they were on the brink of collapse.