President Joe Biden gave a brief statement today (Sunday) marking the success of the hostage deal, which he claimed was his deal as laid out in May of last year.
Biden said that his deal had finally come to "fruition," that a ceasefire was now in place in Gaza, and that hostages were now being released.
He then noted the hostages themselves "three Israeli women" held in captivity "in dark tunnels" for "470 days." He then said that four more women will be released in seven days, followed by three days thereafter every week, including "at least two American citizens."
He asked those listening to pray for the hostages and their families, as they have a long recovery ahead of them.
He then addressed the next part of the hostage deal, saying that "by the 16th day of the deal," talks will begin on the second phase. Biden claimed that the second phase included the release of Israeli soldiers - presumably male soldiers - and "a permanent end to the war" - "without Hamas in power" or being able to threaten Israel.
Biden took note of the delivery of hundreds of trucks carrying humanitarian aid to Gazan civilians "who have suffered enormously from the war," while blaming Hamas for starting the war "fifteen months ago."
Biden said that the deal, which he said was approved unanimously by the UN Security Council, was "one of the toughest negotiations I've been a part of" in decades of public service.
The President then took time to address those who said that the policy of supporting Israel strongly while engaging in diplomacy, which he said helped bring about the deal, threatened to engulf the United States in a wider war.
Biden said he respected those voices but that he concluded that doing otherwise and taking a different path would have actually led to the wider war "so many feared."
In response to a question about Hamas having a resurgence or rearming, Biden simply said "No."
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