White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on Monday that the United States will continue to pursue a “ceasefire and hostage situation” in the Gaza Strip as President Biden races to reach agreement on key foreign policy goals before leaving office in a week's time. We are very close to an agreement.”
“Number one, we're very close to a ceasefire and a hostage agreement, and I think it's very likely that we'll cross the line and reach an agreement this week before President Biden leaves office,” Sullivan said. He said this in an interview with a Nexstar Washington correspondent. Jesse Turnelle.
“I say a definite possibility because I can't make any predictions or promises,” he added.
Israeli officials told The Hill on Monday that a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas and efforts to release the hostages are close but not final. Reuters earlier reported that Qatar had given a final agreement to both Israel and Hamas.
“The second thing, and I think this is very important, is that President Biden has given us direction to work closely with the incoming team to make sure we don't send different messages,” Sullivan said. He was referring to the next administration of President-elect Trump.
He added, “There was no gap in the United States' united front of, “This agreement is important, let's get it done.''''
The president-elect has warned that “hell” will break out in the Middle East if the hostages kidnapped by Hamas in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel are not released by the president's return on Jan. 20.
“President Biden's top Middle East official, Brett McGuirk, has been camped out in Qatar for the past few days,” Sullivan said. “President Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is currently in Qatar with President Trump, and we are working together to produce an agreement that serves the American people, the Israeli people, and the cause of peace around the world. .”
The Hill is owned by Nexstar Media Group.
