President Biden said Israel had agreed to a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, but Hamas was not prepared to call for a ceasefire.
The president’s remarks were recorded Monday and aired on NBC’s “Late Night with Seth Meyers” early Tuesday morning. He suggested that a ceasefire during Ramadan would give the United States time to secure the release of American hostages held by Hamas, but terrorist organization officials are considering a ceasefire agreement. He insisted his comments were premature.
“Ramadan is approaching, and there was an agreement on the Israeli side to not operate during Ramadan to give us time to rescue all the hostages,” Biden told Meyers.
Earlier, the president told reporters he expected a ceasefire to begin at least by “the end of the weekend.”
Biden says he hopes for a ceasefire in Gaza by ‘weekend’ on ice cream outing with Seth Meyers
An Israeli tank returns from the Gaza Strip in southern Israel on February 26, 2024. (Reuters/Amir Cohen)
“At least my international security The advisor says it’s coming soon. It’s coming soon. It’s not over yet,” Biden said at an ice cream parlor near Peacock Network headquarters after recording an interview with Meyers.
“My hope is that there will be a ceasefire by next Monday,” he added, holding a mint ice cream cone.
Hamas is considering a proposal agreed at a meeting in Paris last week between Israel, the United States, Egyptian and Qatari mediators. This is the most serious effort at a ceasefire since the previous one collapsed within a week in November.
Mr. Biden sounded optimistic about the prospect of a ceasefire, but two Hamas officials who spoke to Reuters said his comments were premature.
Israeli airstrike kills 2 deep in Lebanon; Hezbollah responds with 60 rockets
President Joe Biden arrives at John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens, New York, February 26, 2024. (Reuters/Leah Millis)
“There are still big gaps to fill,” one official said, according to Reuters. “The lack of clarity on the main and central issues of a ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli troops has delayed reaching an agreement.”
Another Hamas official close to the talks told Reuters that the draft proposal sent to Hamas called for a 40-day cease-fire in which Hamas would release about 40 hostages, including women, people under 19 or over 50, and sick people in return. He said it was about. About 400 Palestinian detainees at a 10:1 ratio.
Under the proposal, Israel would redeploy its troops outside settled areas. Gaza residents, with the exception of men of combat age, will be allowed to return to areas they had previously evacuated, and more aid will flow into Gaza, including equipment to house those who have lost their homes.
But Israel has not agreed to two key demands from Hamas: a permanent end to the war and a promise to withdraw from Palestinian territory.
The Pentagon says the act of a US airman who self-immolated in front of the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C., was a “tragic event.”
President Joe Biden eats ice cream at Van Leeuwen Ice Cream as Seth Meyers looks on on Monday, February 26, 2024 in New York. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
The proposal also does not address Hamas’ demands for the release of Israeli hostages, who are soldiers and able-bodied men of fighting age, or for the release of as many as 1,500 detainees, Reuters reported.
Delegations from Hamas and Israel are in Qatar this week to negotiate details of a possible ceasefire. They face an unofficial deadline of March 10, the start of the Ramadan period, when Israeli-Palestinian tensions often rise.
Biden told NBC that Israel risks losing international support if it does not take steps to reduce civilian casualties.
Israel has announced that it will invade Rafah city in the Gaza Strip, where 2.3 million Palestinians, including displaced people sleeping in makeshift tents and public buildings, are currently living, regardless of whether a ceasefire is reached. .
Prime Minister Netanyahu vows to invade Rafah regardless of possible ceasefire with Hamas
“Too many innocent people have been killed, and Israel has delayed its attack on Rafah,” Biden said, adding that Israel is committed to getting Palestinians out of Rafah before the invasion. Ta.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier rejected as “delusions” Hamas’ counteroffensive proposals for the release of all hostages, Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza, and for Israel and Hamas to sign a treaty to end the war.
The president also said that a temporary ceasefire would create the conditions necessary for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
“That gives us time to start moving in the direction that many Arab countries are ready to go in. For example, Saudi Arabia is ready to recognize Israel. So is Jordan. Egypt, there are six other countries. “We have been working with Qatar,” Biden said.
“If we can… achieve a temporary ceasefire, we can change the dynamics and move towards establishing a two-state process rather than an immediate two-state solution.” A solution, a process that guarantees Israeli security and Palestinian independence.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Prime Minister Netanyahu rejects a two-state solution as long as Hamas exists. Israel has vowed to continue the war until the terrorist organization is eradicated.
Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 253 hostages, sparking a war. Israel retaliated with an artillery campaign and ground invasion of Gaza, during which tens of thousands of Palestinians were killed.
Fox News Digital’s Bradford Betz and Reuters contributed to this report.
