President Biden said Monday that a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip is nearing and that he hopes it will be in place by “the end of the weekend.”
The seemingly casual comment, which has geopolitical implications, came as the president had just finished an interview with Seth Meyers on “Late Night” and stopped at an ice cream parlor near Peacock Network’s headquarters. Ta.
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)
Asked by reporters when the ceasefire would begin, Biden, holding a mint ice cream cone, said he hoped at least by “the end of the weekend.”
“At least my national security adviser says we’re getting closer. We’re getting closer. We’re not done yet,” Biden said. “And my hope is that by next Monday there will be a ceasefire.”
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Biden also spoke about plans to travel to the southern border this Thursday to meet with Border Patrol agents and discuss the need for bipartisan legislation.
Biden joked that “a good friend of mine” would also stop at the border, a subtle nod to his Republican rival, former President Trump, who also visits the border.
Biden’s visit comes in the wake of the murder of Augusta University student Laken Riley last week at the hands of an illegal immigrant on the University of Georgia campus in Athens. Her killing reignited calls for Biden to take stricter border measures.
University of Georgia murder suspect Jose Ybarra lived within a five-minute walk of the scene where he allegedly killed 22-year-old nursing student Laken Riley on February 22nd. (Mark Sims for Fox News Digital/Laken Riley/Jose Ibarra)
The stop in Van Leeuwen came after a recorded interview with Myers, during which dozens of pro-Palestinian activists were arrested during a demonstration in the lobby.
Israel and Hamas are negotiating a week-long ceasefire in which Israel will release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the release of hostages held by the Iranian-backed terror group in the Gaza Strip. It’s in progress. The proposed six-week cessation of fighting would also include allowing hundreds of trucks to deliver desperately needed aid to Gaza each day.
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Negotiators have unofficially set a deadline of around March 10 for the start of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, a time when tensions between Israel and Palestine often rise.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
