US President Joe Biden has “stressed the urgency” of reaching a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the White House has said.
He also reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to help defend Israel against what the White House called "all threats from Iran, including its proxy terrorist groups Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis".
The office of Mr Netanyahu reiterated that Israel planned to keep troops in a strip of land along the border between Gaza and Egypt – known as the Philadelphi Corridor – in the event of any such deal.
The issue has become a key sticking point – with Hamas so far insisting on a total withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. Egypt also opposes the presence of Israeli troops along its border with Gaza.
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