Biden thanks Egypt for releasing Gaza aid, discusses ‘new initiatives’ to revive hostage talks with Sissi

US President Joe Biden welcomes the decision by Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi to allow aid piling up in Egypt to be sent into Gaza through Israel’s Kerem Shalom Crossing until Egypt’s Rafah Border Crossing is reopened.

“This will help save lives,” the White House says in a readout on the call.

Biden “also expressed his full commitment to support efforts to reopen the Rafah Crossing with arrangements acceptable to both Egypt and Israel and agreed to send a senior team to Cairo next week for further discussions,” the readout says.

Aid has been piling up in Egypt since Israel launched an operation to take over the Gaza side of the Rafah Border Crossing with Egypt on May 7.

Not wanting to be seen as complicit with Israel’s occupation of the gate, Egypt has refused to re-open Rafah until Israeli troops have withdrawn from the other side.

In the meantime, the US and Israel have urged Cairo to at least allow the growing amount of aid in Egypt to be transferred to Israel where it can be delivered into Gaza through the Kerem Shalom Crossing.

Egypt had to date refused, still deeming such a move as collaboration with Israel’s military offensive in the southern Gaza city.

The stance has led to rare criticism from the Biden administration, which had until this week only offered praise of Egypt’s role in the war — both as a mediator and as a facilitator of aid.

Biden on the call thanked Sissi “for his efforts from the beginning of the crisis to ensure the continuous flow of assistance from Egypt into Gaza,” the White House says.

“The two leaders also consulted on new initiatives to secure the release of hostages together with an immediate and sustained ceasefire in Gaza,” the US readout says.