Biden nudges Netanyahu on Gaza cease-fire
The US is pressing Israel and Hamas to agree to a cease-fire and hostage release deal
What happened
President Joe Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, urging him to bring the Gaza "cease-fire and hostage release deal to closure," the White House said. Vice President Kamala Harris, in Chicago for the Democratic National Convention, was also on the call. Thousands of protesters against Israel's Gaza war marched outside the DNC for a third day; dozens were arrested Tuesday.
Who said what
"A Gaza cease-fire deal is tantalizingly close," David Ignatius said at The Washington Post, but U.S. and Israeli officials say "Hamas has been silent" on the proposal to bridge differences between the two sides and "Netanyahu has been slow-walking the negotiations." Netanyahu's office said "Israel will insist" on achieving "all of its objectives for the war," including "securing" the Gaza-Egypt border with Israeli forces — a nonstarter for Hamas.
What next?
U.S., Egyptian and Qatari mediators are "planning to gather Thursday in Cairo to discuss how to increase pressure on Hamas," Ignatius said. There is also "skepticism, along with fatigue, among many in Israel about Netanyahu's commitment to securing an agreement," The Associated Press said. Arab officials told The Times of Israel there's "no point" to this week's talks unless the "U.S. pressures Netanyahu to back off his new demands" to keep troops in Gaza indefinitely.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
The African asylum seekers fighting for Israel in Gaza
Under the Radar 'Quid pro quo' recruitment offer condemned as unethical as Israel seeks to address shortage of soldiers
By The Week Staff Published
-
Instagram rolls out teen accounts with new limits
Speed Read After facing pushback over child safety, Meta announced that all users under 18 will have their Instagram accounts modified
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Arizona official sues to bar 100K from local voting
Speed Read A large number of residents who have not submitted citizenship documents might be prevented from voting in the battleground state's elections
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Arizona official sues to bar 100K from local voting
Speed Read A large number of residents who have not submitted citizenship documents might be prevented from voting in the battleground state's elections
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Hezbollah hit with exploding pagers, blames Israel
Speed Read At least 11 people in Lebanon were killed, and 2,800 others were wounded
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Suspect lurked 12 hours at Trump course, fired no shots
Speed Read Ryan Routh, 58, did not have Trump in his line of sight when the Secret Service apprehended him
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'If this is a race, China has a commanding lead'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Ohio governor slams attacks on Haitian migrants
Speed Read Mike DeWine condemned the conspiracies boosted by Donald Trump and JD Vance about immigrants eating people's pets
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Mexico ratifies contentious judicial overhaul
Speed Read The reform pushed through by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador will require all judges to be elected
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Judge axes North Dakota's near-total abortion ban
Speed Read A judge in the Republican-dominated state overturned the ban, citing a woman's 'fundamental right'
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
US demands answers in Israeli killing of US protester
Speed Read Aysenur Ezgi Eygi was likely killed by IDF soldiers while protesting in the West Bank
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published