Biden, Harris discuss Gaza ceasefire deal with Netanyahu

The White House said that US President Joe Biden just got off the phone with “Israeli” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in efforts to secure a ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal in the Gaza Strip.

Vice President Kamala Harris also joined the call, according to the statement.

As mediators scramble to save the chances of a ceasefire deal, “Israeli” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied earlier the recent reports of agreeing to withdraw “Israeli” troops from the Philadelphi Corridor.

The office said that the recent reports, which claim the remarks came from his recent meeting with the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, are “incorrect” – according to Hebrew news outlet “Kan”.

“Israel will insist on achieving all of its war goals, as defined by the cabinet — including the goal that Gaza will never again present a security threat to Israel,” the statement said.

“That requires closing the southern border,” added, referring to the border between Egypt and Gaza, currently occupied by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF).