Updates on the Israel-Hamas conflict: President Joe Biden has expressed his wish for the cessation of hostilities to persist as long as prisoners are being released. While anticipating the release of more Americans by Hamas, he underscored the significance of a \”two-state solution\” for the enduring security of both Israelis and Palestinians.
Biden addressed the media following the release of 17 hostages by Hamas, including a four-year-old American girl named Abigail Edan. Tragically, Abigail witnessed her parents\’ death during a Hamas raid on October 7 and had been held captive since then. Biden condemned the unimaginable ordeal she endured and emphasized the ongoing efforts to secure the release of all hostages.
The U.S. president reiterated the commitment to advocate for the release of additional Americans, emphasizing the goal of maintaining the pause in fighting to facilitate the release of more hostages and provide humanitarian relief to those in need.
Regarding the future of Gaza, Biden restated the importance of a two-state solution, emphasizing its role in ensuring the long-term security, freedom, and dignity of both Israelis and Palestinians. He stated that the objective is to extend the truce beyond tomorrow to continue the release of hostages and provide humanitarian aid.
Biden emphasized that there is no returning to the status quo before October 7, stressing the need to consider what comes next after the crisis. The two-state solution, proposing an independent state for Palestinians alongside Israel, has been the primary framework for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, despite facing challenges over the years.
The ongoing four-day truce, the first pause in fighting in seven weeks, follows the previous Hamas attack that prompted Israel\’s commitment to eliminate Hamas militants. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed a willingness to extend the truce if it meant the daily release of 10 captives, as agreed in the original Qatari-brokered deal. However, he also stated that, at the truce\’s end, Israel would return with full force to achieve its goals, including the elimination of Hamas and the release of all hostages.
