Biden calls on Egypt and Qatar to push Hamas to agree deal on hostages

President Joe Biden has called on Egypt and Qatar to put pressure on Hamas (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

President Joe Biden on Friday wrote to the leaders of Egypt and Qatar, calling on them to press Hamas for a hostage deal with Israel, according to a senior administration official.

The move came one day after Mr Biden called on Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to redouble efforts to reach a ceasefire in the six-month-old war in Gaza.