U.S. President Joe Biden said on Wednesday he did not expect an Israel-Hamas deal for the release of hostages held in Gaza to be struck soon.
Quick Read
- No Immediate Deal Expected: U.S. President Joe Biden expressed on Wednesday that he does not anticipate a prompt agreement for the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.
- Biden’s Statement: He mentioned this while speaking to reporters during a visit to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, indicating ongoing efforts but no immediate resolution.
- Ongoing Negotiation Efforts: There are efforts in progress to secure the release of more hostages, involving high-level discussions.
- Key Meeting Planned: A meeting is expected to take place involving the heads of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Israel’s Mossad, and the Prime Minister of Qatar to discuss this hostage situation.
Reuters has the story:
President Biden says new Gaza hostage deal is not expected soon
Newslooks- MILWAUKEE, (Reuters)
U.S. President Joe Biden said on Wednesday he did not expect an Israel-Hamas deal for the release of hostages held in Gaza to be struck soon.
“We’re pushing,” Biden told reporters during a trip to Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Efforts are under way to try to arrange for the release of more hostages, with the heads of the U.S. CIA, Israel’s Mossad and Qatar’s prime minister expected to meet and discuss the issue.
Biden is aiming to use a visit to the battleground state of Wisconsin on Wednesday to spotlight a surge in federal government support for Black-owned small businesses during his White House tenure and to highlight his administration’s efforts to ramp up investment in distressed communities.
The Small Business Administration in the last fiscal year backed 4,700 loans valued at $1.5 billion to Black-owned businesses. Under Biden, the SBA says it has more than doubled the number and total dollar amount of loans to Black-owned small businesses.
Since 2020, the share of the SBA’s loans going to minority-owned businesses has increased from 23% to over 32%.
