“This is just the beginning, but so far it has gone well,” said US President Joe Biden, addressing the nation this Friday once the truce in the war in Gaza became a reality and 24 hostages and 39 Palestinians were freed on this first day of exchange. Although the president did not hide his distrust of Hamas by suggesting that this could go wrong, he responded that “the possibilities are real” about the prospect of the four-day ceasefire being extended to a fifth day or even longer.
Biden, who said that the attack launched by that group on October 7 was motivated by the progress of US negotiations with Saudi Arabia and other countries to normalize Israel’s position in the region, maintained that the first exchange It was “the beginning of the process” for all those detained to return home, despite seeing “difficult days.” And he emphasized his promise: “I want to remind those who continue to be held of our commitment to achieving their release.” He also insisted that “we’re not going to stop until everyone comes home,” in direct and specific reference to the Americans still held captive. He hoped there will be some this Saturday.
The American president had said the day before that, despite the agreement, he was not going to make any assessments until he felt something. “You can’t say it’s done until it’s done,” he stressed cautiously.
This Friday, the Thanksgiving holiday (Thursday was Thanksgiving), Biden spoke from Nantucket (Massachusetts) and expressed his satisfaction with the good progress of this first batch. He stressed his confidence that his compatriots would soon be released, although he insisted on his fears. “He didn’t trust Hamas to do anything right in the coming days. I only trust that Hamas responds to the pressure and in the cooperation of the Arab League,” he stressed. And he reiterated that he reminds Israel again and again to “reduce the death toll” in its attempt to eliminate Hamas, “a legitimate goal.”
His appearance served to express his gratitude to the leaders of Qatar, Egypt and Israel for the negotiations that have allowed us to reach this point. But, above all, to praise the work of the White House. Biden set up a “secret cell” of advisors to lead this negotiation. “Now we see the first results, the result of hard work against the clock of weeks of personal involvement and that of my team,” he said.
“I have constantly pushed for a pause in the war for two reasons, to accelerate and expand humanitarian aid in Gaza and to facilitate the release of the hostages,” he said. “This pause is a critical opportunity to distribute more much-needed food, medicine and fuel,” she insisted. He further clarified that mechanisms have also been put in place so that Hamas does not divert these supplies.
“Everything is ready to enter Gaza in the coming days and help the innocent Palestinians who are suffering greatly from this war launched by Hamas,” he added. And he assured that he looks towards a future in which there is lasting peace in the Middle East with the solution of the two states, Israel and Palestine, coexisting side by side.