Biden Welcomes Netanyahu Decision To Authorise Ceasefire Negotiations

The White House has issued a readout of a call between US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcoming a decision by the PM to authorise Israeli negotiators, "to engage with U.S., Qatari, and Egyptian mediators in an effort to close out the [Gaza ceasefire-for-hostage] deal."

• White House: "President Biden and the Prime Minister discussed ongoing efforts to finalize a ceasefire deal together with the release of hostages, as outlined by President Biden and endorsed by the UN Security Council, the G7, and countries around the world."
• Readout cont: "The leaders discussed the recent response received from Hamas. The President welcomed the Prime Minister’s decision to authorize his negotiators to engage with U.S., Qatari, and Egyptian mediators in an effort to close out the deal."
• Cont: "President Biden reaffirmed his ironclad commitment to Israel’s security including in the face of threats from Iranian-backed terrorist groups such as Lebanese Hezbollah."
• Cont: "Both leaders welcomed the meeting to take place on July 15 between their national security teams in the Strategic Consultative Group format."
• Barak Ravid at Axios reports: "Mossad director David Barnea will travel to Doha with an Israeli delegation to continue the negotiations over the Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal. He is expected to meet Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdul Rahman al-Thani, per two sources with knowledge."