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- US President Joe Biden urged Egypt and Qatar to help secure the release of hostages held by Hamas to facilitate a Gaza ceasefire.
- Egypt, Qatar, and Hamas representatives discussed a proposal for a ceasefire and a new hostage release in Cairo.
- The proposed deal includes a 40-day ceasefire and the potential release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for hostages held by Hamas.
US President Joe Biden on Monday urged the leaders of Egypt and Qatar to "exert all efforts" towards securing the release of hostages held by Hamas as part of negotiations for a Gaza ceasefire, the White House said.
Washington, Doha and Cairo have been mediating for months to achieve a truce in the Palestinian territory, which has endured relentless bombing by Israel in response to the unprecedented deadly attack by Hamas against Israel on 7 October.
Representatives from Egypt, Qatar and Hamas met Monday in Cairo, with the Palestinian Islamist group expected to respond to a proposal for a second truce in Gaza, coupled with a fresh release of hostages.
In nearly identical statements, the White House said Biden spoke with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani in separate phone calls and discussed "the deal now on the table."
Biden urged the leaders "to exert all efforts to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas as this is now the only obstacle to an immediate ceasefire and relief for the people of Gaza," the White House said.
ROLLING COVERAGE | DEVELOPING: Israel kills at least 30 Palestinians in Rafah, new Gaza ceasefire talks expected in Cairo
A source close to Hamas told AFP that the group's delegation was keen to respond "as quickly as possible" to the proposal.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, visiting Riyadh, said he was hopeful Hamas would accept the offer, which he characterised as "extraordinarily generous on the part of Israel."
The deal would include a "sustained 40 days' ceasefire" along with the release potentially of thousands of Palestinian prisoners, in exchange for the return of hostages held by Hamas, Britain's top diplomat David Cameron said in the Saudi capital.
Since the start of the war, a single week-long truce was declared, in late November.
