Biden, UAE leader discuss Gaza war, welcome hostage deal and truce

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday held a call with President Mohamed bin Zayed of the United Arab Emirates and discussed the war in the Middle East and an upcoming climate summit, the White House said in a statement.

The leaders welcomed the recent hostage deal and humanitarian pause in the Gaza war, the White House said. Biden has asked Vice President Kamala Harris to attend the upcoming COP28 climate summit in Dubai, the White House added.

The Emirates News agency WAM said the two sides "reviewed the importance of working on a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and ensuring permanent and safe mechanisms to deliver humanitarian aid to the residents of the Strip without obstacles."

They also stressed importance of finding "comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East region on the basis of the two-state solution, as it is the way to enhance security, stability and regional peace", it added.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington and Moaz Abd-Alaziz in Cairo; editing by Diane Craft and Sandra Maler)