Biden also praised American diplomacy, which helped in the release of 24 people detained by Hamas, and said that this is the beginning of what is expected to be the release of more detainees held by the movement in the coming days.
Biden said in a press conference, “As of this morning, and under an agreement reached with intense American diplomacy, including many communications I made from the Oval Office with the leaders of the region, the fighting in Gaza will stop for 4 days,” according to Reuters.
Biden refused to speculate on how long the war between Israel and Hamas would last, but said he believed the chances of extending the current truce were “real.” He expressed his hope that the Americans detained by Hamas would be released.
“I don’t know how long it will take,” Biden said.
He continued, “My expectation and hope is that as we move forward, the rest of the Arab world and the region will also put pressure on all parties… to put an end to this matter as quickly as possible.”
Biden, who has supported Israel politically since the beginning of the war and provided it with various types of military support, urged him to make additional efforts in an effort to “renew our determination to complete the two-state solution,” considering it “more important than ever,” according to Agence France-Presse.
Under the terms of the truce, 50 women and children from detention will be released over a period of 4 days, in exchange for 150 Palestinian women and children held in Israeli prisons.
Israel says the truce may be extended if more detainees are released, at a rate of 10 detainees per day.
Biden spoke to reporters yesterday, Friday, while spending the vacation with his family on Nantucket Island, Massachusetts.
As Biden and his wife, Jill, walked around Nantucket after his comments, some in the gathered crowd loudly chanted “Free Palestine!”
Biden said earlier that he raised the issue of dead and wounded civilians with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Biden added to reporters, “I asked the prime minister to focus on trying to reduce the number of deaths and injuries in light of his attempt to eliminate Hamas, which is a legitimate goal.”
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