Retiring President Biden said Wednesday that US citizens will be among those released by Hamas as part of a Gaza Strip cease-fire deal — while refusing to give any credit to President-elect Donald Trump for escalating pressure on the terrorist group.
White House officials on Monday expressed cautious optimism that a deal to pause 15 months of grinding war in the Gaza Strip and secure the release of Israeli and other foreign hostages held by Hamas could be struck in the final week of President Joe Biden’s term in office.
Heavy fighting rocked the Gaza Strip on Monday, leaving dozens of Palestinians and five Israeli soldiers dead, even as the White House said that a Gaza truce and hostage release
Israel and Hamas have been holding indirect talks for more than a year aimed at ending the war in Gaza and returning the hostages to Israel.
Israel’s far-right Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, has warned his country would oppose any deal that would stop the war. This is as US President, Joe Biden, said on Monday that a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal between Hamas and Israel was “on the brink” of being finalized.
US, Israeli, and Palestinian officials have expressed increased optimism that a cease-fire agreement could soon be reached.
The White House says Gaza truce talks are at a 'pivotal point' :: Jake Sullivan, White House National Security Advisor:::: Washington, D.C. "We are now at a pivotal point in the negotiations for a hostage deal and cease fire in Gaza.
US President Joe Biden said Monday that a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal between Hamas and Israel was "on the brink" of being finalised, even as heavy fighting rocked the Palestinian territory.
Pressure is on to reach a deal that would see Hamas release at least some hostages before President-elect Donald J. Trump takes office.
American officials believe a ceasefire and hostages release deal in the Israel-Hamas war is now in sight, in what marks the first real sign of serious optimism inside the Biden administration in months,
Israel and Hamas have agreed to stop the war for six weeks, but now the hard part begins for all sides.