President of the United States Joe Biden demanded release of Hamas hostages before exploring a possible ceasefire due to Israeli bombing of the Gaza Strip.
“The hostages must be freed and then we can talk,” he answered when asked by reporters if he would accept an agreement to release the hostages in exchange for a ceasefire.
Biden made the comments at a public event at the White House where he did not take questions, but when he left the room he turned to briefly answer questions thrown at him by the media.
The al-Qasam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, made the announcement on Monday the release of two Israeli hostageselderly women aged 85 and 80, among at least 220 prisoners in Gaza, after mediation by Egypt and Qatar.
On Friday, the Palestinian Islamist group had already freed others two American women claiming “humanitarian reasons”.
European Union (EU) foreign ministers on Monday called for a “humanitarian pause” in the war in Gaza to facilitate the entry of aid for the civilian population.
In this regard, the United States Department of State expressed its opposition to any kind of cease-fire, believing that it would allow Hamas to “reorganize” to attack Israel again.
Biden called his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu last night to discuss the two freed hostages and his country’s support for Israel’s defense.
According to the press release from White Housethe US president also emphasized the need to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, and detailed US efforts to prevent the conflict from spreading to other regions.
Both leaders promised to talk again in the coming days.
On the other hand, the US Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin He also spoke with his Israeli counterpart, Yoav Gallant, to brief him on his office’s actions to prevent the escalation of violence in the Middle East.
Source: Panama America
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
