“Only a start”, says Biden as Hamas frees 24 hostages

United States President Joe Biden said Friday’s release of the first group of Hamas detainees was merely a start and that there were real opportunities to extend a temporary truce in Gaza.

Biden told media in Nantucket, Massachusetts, where he was spending the ‘Thanksgiving’ with his family, that it was time to renew efforts to find a two-state solution for peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

Hamas handed over 24 captives to the International Committee of the Red Cross(ICRC) in Gaza on Friday, while Israel freed 39 women and minors held in its prisons.

A four-day truce was also in effect to facilitate hostage and prisoner releases.

Biden, who led US efforts to secure a halt in the savage fighting between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza, said “I think the chances are real for extending the truce”.

“This morning I’ve been engaged with my team as we began the first couple of days of implementing this deal”, Biden stated of the process’s commencement.

“It’s only a start, but so far it’s gone well”, Biden continued.

Biden also called for a broader effort to emerge from the crisis with a viable Palestinian state alongside Israel, emphasizing the need to renew our resolve to pursue this two-state solution.

Israel launched an air and military offensive in response to Hamas’s October 7 strike, vowing to exterminate the Palestinian militants.

According to Hamas officials, approximately 15,000 people have been killed in Gaza, including 6,150 children.

As per the Israeli officials, over 1,200 persons, largely civilians were killed in Israel during the October 7 attack, and approximately 240 were taken captive.

Also read: 39 Palestinian detainees released from Israeli prisons under Gaza hostage deal