White House: Biden and Sisi closely cooperating on ceasefire efforts in Gaza

(Patria) - US President Joe Biden and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi discussed ceasefire negotiations and the release of hostages in Gaza on Tuesday and agreed to remain in close coordination in the coming hours, the White House announced, Reuters reported last night.

Negotiators were trying on Tuesday to reach an agreement on the final details of a ceasefire in Gaza after marathon talks in Qatar, and the parties involved said an agreement was closer than ever. Both Egypt and the US are mediators in the negotiations.

Democrat Biden, whose administration participated in the talks along with an envoy for newly elected Republican President Donald Trump, said an agreement was close.

"Both leaders committed to remaining in close coordination directly and through their teams in the coming hours," the White House said in a statement following the talks between Biden and Sisi.

"Both leaders emphasized the urgent need for the agreement to be implemented," the White House added.

The White House stated that the two leaders discussed increasing humanitarian aid to Gaza, where more than 46,000 Palestinians have been killed in the last fifteen months, leading to accusations of genocide and war crimes which Israel denies. The offensive has displaced almost all of Gaza's 2.3 million residents and caused starvation. The latest bloodshed was triggered on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages.