US president eager to get Gaza hostage deal in place — WH

White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby said that President Joe Biden welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the Oval Office on Thursday afternoon. "There's a lot on the agenda, but first and foremost will be discussing how deeply and how strongly the president feels, we feel, that we've got to get this (Gaza) hostage deal in place so we can get a ceasefire also in place, at least for phase one for those first six weeks," Kirby told reporters . "There are gaps that remain, and our team continues to work with our counterparts in the region to see if we can't close those gaps. "We believe that they are of a nature where they can be closed and that we can achieve a deal, but it's going to require, as it always does, some leadership, some compromise and an effort to get there. "President will be reaffirming for Prime Minister Netanyahu that he believes we need to get there, and we need to get there soon," he stressed. "Today is the 293rd day that these hostages have been held captive by Hamas and you just have to assume that it is the most horrific of circumstances. "Sadly, we know that not all of them are alive. Still, hostages still need to get home to their families. "293 days, there ought not to be a 294th and we're going to keep working on that," Kirby promised. "I do anticipate that the two leaders will also have a chance to talk about other substantive issues, in terms of the Blue Line up at the north and making sure we don't see an escalation of the conflict between Israel and Lebanon and make sure that we're providing opportunities for both Israeli and Lebanese citizens to return to their homes as well, as of course the need, the critical need for stability in the West Bank. "We're still seeing violence in the West Bank, that the president has been absolutely steadfast calling out as unacceptable. "They'll also discuss the United States ironclad commitment, of course to Israel's security, including countering the very serious threats that Iran and its proxy groups c ontinue to demonstrate throughout the region," he went on. The president and the prime minister -- will have a chance to meet with the families of the Americans who are being held hostage by Hamas. Source: Kuwait News Agency