Biden, Harris discuss ‘next steps’ in Gaza cease-fire efforts in Situation Room meeting

WASHINGTON (AA) – US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday met with US negotiators of the Gaza ceasefire deal at the White House, during which they discussed “next steps” in the ongoing efforts, said a statement.

The meeting at White House Situation Room came after the recovery of the bodies of American Hersh Goldberg-Polin and five other people in Gaza, which prompted protests against Netanyahu government this weekend.

In the statement, the presidential mansion said Biden “expressed his devastation and outrage at the murder, and reaffirmed the importance of holding Hamas’s leaders accountable”.

According to the statement, Biden and Harris received an update from the American negotiation team “on the status of the bridging proposal” outlined by the US, Qatar, and Egypt.

“They discussed next steps in the ongoing effort to secure the release of hostages, including continuing consultations with co-mediators Qatar and Egypt,” it added.

During the meeting, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, CIA Director Bill Burns and Jake Sullivan, Biden’s national security adviser, were present, among others.

For months, the US, Qatar, and Egypt have been trying for an agreement between Israel and Hamas to ensure a prisoner exchange and a cease-fire. But mediation efforts have been stalled due to Netanyahu’s refusal to meet Hamas’ demand to stop the war.

Israel’s war on Gaza has killed more than 40,700 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured over 94,100 others, according to local health authorities.

An ongoing blockade of the enclave has led to severe shortages of food, clean water and medicine.

Israel faces accusations of genocide for its actions in Gaza at the International Court of Justice