President Biden on Monday said a hostage deal between Israel and Hamas was “close” and that he hoped a ceasefire could be reached by Monday, March 4. But in response, both sides indicated an agreement is still far away and said the president spoke too soon.
According to The Times of Israel, one Hamas official said Biden’s comments were “premature” and didn’t reflect reality. Another Hamas official told Reuters that there were still “big gaps” between the two sides.
Hamas is still looking for a permanent ceasefire, while the deal that’s reportedly on the table would be for a six-week truce. “The primary and main issues of the ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces are not clearly stated, which delays reaching an agreement,” said the Hamas official speaking to Reuters.
According to The Associated Press, Biden’s comments came as a surprise to Israeli officials and were not done in coordination with the Israeli government. Israeli officials are blaming the lack of an agreement on Hamas’s demands, although Haaretz reported Monday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was also complicating negotiations.
Netanyahu has said that any hostage deal would only delay Israel’s plans to invade the southern Gaza city of Rafah, which borders Egypt and is packed with 1.5 million Palestinians. A full-scale assault would incur a huge civilian death toll, as most Palestinians are sheltering in tents on the streets of Rafah.
The deal that’s on the table would involve Hamas releasing 40 Israeli hostages during the six-week pause as Israel releases hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Hamas previously offered to release all Israeli hostages in exchange for the release of thousands of Palestinians and a 135-day ceasefire with the goal of reaching a permanent settlement, but the proposal was rejected by Israel.
To Genocide Joe, the Palestinians lives in Gaza are nothing but a political problem that’s costing him precious votes. Better run some more PR campaign to cover up, or just pretend that no genocide is taking place at all. Nope, nothing happening here on the map area marked Gaza at all. What Gaza? What genocide? Did you hear about the hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars I earmarked for war?
So it goes……………..
C’mon man! Can’t you see I’m enjoying an ice cream while watching Israel kill Palestinian babies?
Damage control to get re-elected… Or damage inflicted to be ousted…!
Biden said what he said because he wanted to justify the US vetoing the recent UN resolution that called for an immediate temporary cease fire. That was Feb 20th. The death continues. Bad optics.
Whose life is more important to Biden and takes priority
“ President Biden on Monday said a hostage deal between Israel and Hamas was “close” ?
He must have been joking or he misplaced his notes.
Who cares what Biden has to say? He is a deranged old man and without notes he is not coherent enough to talk about the weather.
Was just nonsense to placate Michigan primary voters. Politicians, particularly those with iron grips already, worry about maintaining control of such things.