President Joe Biden said Monday that he hopes a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas that would pause hostilities and allow for remaining hostages to be released can take effect by early next week. Asked when he thought a cease-fire could begin, Biden said: “Well I hope by the beginning of the weekend. The end of the weekend. My national security adviser tells me that we’re close. We’re close. We’re not done yet. My hope is by next Monday we’ll have a ceasefir
Quick Read
- President Joe Biden expressed optimism about achieving a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, aiming for a pause in hostilities and the release of remaining hostages by early next week.
- Biden’s remarks came during a visit to New York, where he taped an appearance on NBC’s “Late Night With Seth Meyers” and participated in a campaign event with donors.
- The proposed cease-fire negotiations aim for a six-week pause, facilitating the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and the delivery of aid to Gaza, with an unofficial deadline set around the start of Ramadan on March 10.
- Despite ongoing negotiations, Israel has been criticized for not complying with a UN court order to provide aid to Gaza, amidst preparations for an expanded ground operation in Rafah, raising international concerns about civilian safety in the conflict with Hamas.
The Associated Press has the story:
Biden hopes Gaza cease-fire-hostage deal can take effect by next Monday
Newslooks- NEW YORK (AP) —
President Joe Biden said Monday that he hopes a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas that would pause hostilities and allow for remaining hostages to be released can take effect by early next week.
Asked when he thought a cease-fire could begin, Biden said: “Well I hope by the beginning of the weekend. The end of the weekend. My national security adviser tells me that we’re close. We’re close. We’re not done yet. My hope is by next Monday we’ll have a ceasefire.”
Biden commented in New York after taping an appearance on NBC’s “Late Night With Seth Meyers.”
Biden sat down for an interview with late-night comic Seth Meyers on Monday while he’s in New York for a campaign event with donors.
NBC said in a statement that Biden’s chat with the host was in recognition of the 10th anniversary of “Late Night With Seth Meyers.” The president began his New York visit by attending a private event with donors at a midtown hotel.
The show posted a clip of Biden’s appearance on social media, with comedian and actor Amy Poehler noting that Biden was a guest on the first show when he was vice president. Poehler said that she could get him to return, prompting Biden to enter to “Hail to the Chief.”
“It’s good to be back,” Biden told Meyers. “Why haven’t you invited me earlier?”
Going into this year’s presidential election, Biden is seeking additional ways to reach out to voters, having largely avoided White House press conferences and on-the-record sit-downs with text reporters. Biden also skipped the traditional pre-Super Bowl presidential interview.
Meyers has taken frequent jabs at former President Donald Trump, the front-runner for the Republican nomination.
During his first three years as president, Biden has given 33 news conferences, the fewest in that time span since Ronald Reagan, according to Martha Kumar, a Towson University professor emeritus and expert on presidents and the press. Biden has given just 86 interviews, significantly less than the 422 given by Barack Obama during his first three years.
After recording the interview, Biden stopped for some mint chip ice cream from Van Leeuwen, with Meyers joining him and getting the honeycomb flavor.
The New York Post first reported that Meyers was interviewing the president.
CEASE-FIRE-HOSTAGE DEAL
Negotiations are underway for a weekslong cease-fire between Israel and Hamas to allow for the release of hostages being held in Gaza by the militant group in return for Israel releasing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. The proposed six-week pause in fighting would also include allowing hundreds of trucks to deliver desperately needed aid into Gaza every day.
Negotiators face an unofficial deadline of the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan around March 10, a period that often sees heightened Israeli-Palestinian tensions.
Meanwhile, Israel has failed to comply with an order by the United Nations’ top court to provide urgently needed aid to desperate people in the Gaza Strip, Human Rights Watch said Monday, a month after a landmark ruling in The Hague ordered Israel to moderate its war.
In a preliminary response to a South African petition accusing Israel of genocide, the U.N.’s top court ordered Israel to do all it can to prevent death, destruction and any acts of genocide in the tiny Palestinian enclave. It stopped short of ordering an end to the military offensive that has triggered a humanitarian catastrophe.
Israel denies the charges against it, saying it is fighting in self-defense.
Nearly five months into the war, preparations are underway for Israel to expand its ground operation into Rafah, Gaza’s southernmost town along the border with Egypt, where 1.4 million Palestinians have sought safety.
Early Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the army had presented to the War Cabinet its operational plan for Rafah as well as plans to evacuate civilians from the battle zones. It gave no further details.
The situation in Rafah has sparked global concern. Israel’s allies have warned that it must protect civilians in its battle against the Hamas militant group.
