Biden: "Israel and Hamas Nearing Hostage Negotiation Agreement"

U.S. President Joe Biden said on the 20th (local time) that he believes an agreement for the release of hostages held by the Palestinian armed group Hamas is imminent.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

At a White House event that day, President Biden responded to reporters' questions about whether a hostage release agreement between Israel and Hamas was near by saying, "I believe so."

Hamas is estimated to have kidnapped more than 200 people as hostages during its surprise attack on Israel on October 7.

John Kirby, Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the White House National Security Council (NSC), also said at a briefing that day, "We believe we are getting closer (to a hostage release agreement)," adding, "We are closer than ever before. This is a good thing." Kirby explained that the focus is especially on the release of child and female hostages.

Earlier, the U.S. daily The Washington Post (WP) reported that Israel and Hamas are close to reaching an agreement to release at least 50 hostages in 24-hour increments and to suspend all fighting for at least five days.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.