President Joe Biden is meeting with Jordan’s King Abdullah II at the White House to continue discussions on a potential hostage release deal in the Israel-Hamas war. Additionally, President Biden has criticized Israel’s planned ground assault on the Gaza city of Rafah. The two leaders plan to discuss efforts to bring about a lasting solution to the crisis in Gaza, including enhanced humanitarian assistance and a vision for a durable peace with a two-state solution.
This meeting follows the drone strike in northeast Jordan that resulted in the deaths of three American soldiers. The United States attributed the strike to militant groups supported by Iran. President Biden also attended the dignified transfer of the slain soldiers at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. The administration is engaged in ongoing talks for a possible hostage release deal, which includes the involvement of CIA Director William Burns and intelligence chiefs from the U.S., Israel, Egypt, and Qatar’s prime minister. U.S. officials believe significant progress has been made on the deal, though some issues still need to be resolved.
While expressing frustration with Netanyahu’s military approach in private, Biden has maintained unequivocal support for Israel. The president and Netanyahu discussed the hostage negotiations in great detail during a recent call, as well as expressing concerns about the Israeli military operation in Rafah due to the presence of a large number of civilians. President Biden is committed to finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict and continues to engage in diplomacy with key stakeholders.
