Biden says he hopes for Israel-Hamas cease-fire by Monday

President Biden announced on Monday that a potential cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas in Gaza is nearing completion. “My national security adviser has informed me that we are close, very close, but it is not finalized yet. My hope is that by next Monday, we will have a cease-fire,” Mr. Biden stated during a press briefing in New York City.

Earlier this month, Mr. Biden mentioned that the United States was in the process of negotiating a hostage deal between Israel and Hamas, which would temporarily halt the conflict in Gaza for a duration of at least six weeks. He emphasized that this agreement would bring immediate peace to Gaza for the specified period, allowing for the establishment of a more sustainable solution.

During an interview that aired on NBC’s “Late Night With Seth Meyers” on Tuesday morning, President Biden revealed that Israel has agreed to pause its military offensive during the upcoming Ramadan period if a deal is reached. Ramadan is set to commence around March 10.

“Ramadan is approaching, and the Israelis have agreed to refrain from any activities during this sacred month, giving us the opportunity to safely retrieve all hostages,” Mr. Biden stated.

While initially supporting Israel’s response to the October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas, President Biden has recently intensified his criticism of Israel’s military operations in Gaza, describing them as excessive. In early February, as Israel prepared for a ground operation in Rafah, a city near the Egyptian border where over a million displaced Palestinians sought refuge, Mr. Biden cautioned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against proceeding without a comprehensive safety plan for the civilians.

Netanyahu stated on “Face the Nation” that a hostage agreement would postpone the Rafah operation, but confirmed that the operation would proceed at a later stage. “We cannot leave the last Hamas stronghold unaddressed. We must take action,” Netanyahu asserted. “I have instructed the military to devise a dual plan: first, to facilitate the evacuation of Palestinian civilians in Gaza, and second, to eliminate the remaining Hamas forces.”

“This significantly advances our path to victory, and we are committed to achieving it. Whether a deal is reached or not, we will persevere. Our ultimate objective is total victory, and it is within our grasp, not in months but in weeks once the operation commences,” Netanyahu declared.

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