President Biden said on Saturday that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had found several bodies in the Gaza Strip.
The president left a church in Delaware and said his staff were in contact with Israel.
“I don't know the exact numbers,” he said. NBC News reported.
The Israel Defense Forces said on Saturday they had found “numerous bodies” during fighting in Gaza, but did not confirm whether any of them were hostages taken in the October 7 attack by the militant group Hamas.
While there was no confirmation, many Israelis interpreted the IDF statement as meaning the bodies were hostages, and the army asked the public to “refrain from spreading rumors,” CNN reported.
Biden said he wanted to identify the person before releasing any more information, saying at this point “I can't say who it is.”
“It's time to end this war,” he said. “We should end this war.”
Biden believes, as he has maintained for months, that a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas is imminent in the nearly year-long war in Gaza.
“I think we're close to an agreement, but now it's time to end it. It's time to end it,” he said.
Biden said he was optimistic that a deal could be reached because all parties agreed to the “principle” of the agreement.
“So, good luck,” he said.
Since the start of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7, 2023, when Hamas invaded Israel, killing more than 1,200 Israelis and taking 250 hostages, Israel has participated in a deadly and devastating counter-offensive. More than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed and survivors face starvation.
