US President Joe Biden’s press secretary has said that the president still wanted a “diplomatic resolution” to the conflict in Gaza, adding that he believed it was “achievable” amid rising regional tensions in the Middle East.

“We are working around the clock. As you said, we’ve had representative — the president’s White House officials have been in the region, continuing to have conversations about getting to a ceasefire deal,” US press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said during a press briefing.

Regarding the attacks in Lebanon and whether the US influence did not have an impact, Jean-Pierre laughed off the question, stating that they did “have some influence there in the beginning”.

Jean-Pierre said: “We’re continuing to work with Egypt and Qatar and, obviously, also Israel to get there. It is important that we get to that to a deal where we can get hostages home, where we can end — end this war.”

“That’s what the president wants to see. He has said that himself. And also get that much-needed — continuing to get that much-needed humanitarian aid into Gaza,” she added.