President Joe Biden released a statement today (Wednesday) regarding the reported agreement between Israel and Hamas on a hostage deal.
Biden began by saying that "today, after many months of intensive diplomacy by the United States, along with Egypt and Qatar, Israel and Hamas have reached a ceasefire and hostage deal. This deal will halt the fighting in Gaza, surge much needed-humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians, and reunite the hostages with their families after more than 15 months in captivity."
He then explained the causes of the deal, making mention only of pressure on Hamas and American diplomacy and not the efforts of President-elect Trump: "I laid out the precise contours of this plan on May 31, 2024, after which it was endorsed unanimously by the UN Security Council. It is the result not only of the extreme pressure that Hamas has been under and the changed regional equation after a ceasefire in Lebanon and weakening of Iran — but also of dogged and painstaking American diplomacy. My diplomacy never ceased in their efforts to get this done."
During a press conference given shortly afterward, President Biden was asked by a reporter whether he thought President-elect Trump deserves credit for the deal as he walked away from the podium. Biden responded "is that a joke?"
Biden then welcomed the return of all the hostages, especially the American ones, alive and dead: "Even as we welcome this news, we remember all the families whose loved ones were killed in Hamas’s October 7th attack, and the many innocent people killed in the war that followed. It is long past time for the fighting to end and the work of building peace and security to begin. I am also if thinking of the American families, three of whom have living hostages in Gaza and four awaiting return of remains after what has been the most horrible ordeal imaginable. Under this deal, we are determined to bring all of them home."
Biden ended the statement by saying that "I will speak more about this soon. For now, I am thrilled that those who have been held hostage are being reunited with their families."
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