US President Joe Biden wrote to the leaders of Egypt and Qatar ahead of Sunday’s talks urging them to secure commitments from Hamas to “agree to and abide by a deal”, a senior administration official tells AFP.
Biden’s Thursday call with Netanyahu included discussions on “empowering his negotiators” to reach a deal, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said.
Washington blames the lack of a deal on Hamas’s refusal to release sick and other vulnerable hostages. Qatar has said Israeli objections to the return of displaced Gazans are the main obstacle. Biden is under pressure over massive US military aid to Israel which Washington so far has not leveraged despite increasingly critical comments about Israel’s conduct of the offensive.
Israel’s opposition chief Yair Lapid headed to Washington on Saturday for talks with top officials, his centrist Yesh Atid party said. Lapid is expected to meet Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, amid deepening frustration with Netanyahu.
He will also meet Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who last month called for a snap Israeli election to give voters a chance to get rid of Netanyahu.