US President Joe Biden praised the new two-day truce between Israel and Hamas on Monday, following Qatar’s successful mediation.
Biden made a statement applauding the extended cease-fire.
“I have remained deeply engaged over the last few days to ensure that this deal–brokered and sustained through extensive US mediation and diplomacy–can continue to deliver results”, stated the president of the United States.
“Thus far, more than 50 hostages have now been released and returned to their families”, Biden stated as Hamas released 11 additional hostages on the fourth day of the truce.
Biden reiterated Avigail Idan’s predicament, a four-year-old Israeli-American who was liberated yesterday. Her parents were slain in front of her on October 7, before Idan was kidnapped.
President Biden went on to say, “I spoke with Abigail’s family following her release, and we are working closely with our Israeli partners to ensure she gets the care and support she needs as she begins to recover from this unspeakable trauma”.
Furthermore, he remarked that the humanitarian pause has also enabled a significant surge in additional humanitarian assistance to the innocent civilians who are suffering across the Gaza Strip.
In addition, Biden emphasized that no other government has contributed more humanitarian aid to Palestinians than the United States.
“We are taking full advantage of the pause in fighting to increase the amount of humanitarian aid moving into Gaza and we will continue our efforts to build a future of peace and dignity for the Palestinian people”, Biden added.
The US president also thanked the leaders of Israel, Qatar, and Egypt for their support and promised to keep fighting until all hostages in Gaza were freed.
