The Palestinian group Hamas handed over the first group of 24 hostages – 13 Israelis, 10 Thai citizens and one Filipino – to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in the Gaza Strip on Friday. In exchange for these hostages, Israel released 39 Palestinian prisoners – 24 women and 15 boys and youths.
Biden, who led the US effort to secure a pause in hostilities between Israel and Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip, also expressed the view that “there is a real possibility” of extending the truce.
Biden welcomed the start of the process on Friday as a four-day truce to release hostages taken by terrorists in exchange for the release of imprisoned Palestinian militants.
“It’s just the beginning, but it’s been going well so far,” Biden said.
Asked if American women and children could be released from Hamas captivity as part of the ceasefire agreement, Biden said he did not know when those hostages would be released, but “we expect that to happen.”
He also called for increased efforts to create a viable Palestinian state alongside Israel, citing “the need to renew our commitment to the two-state solution.”
2023-11-25 08:10:42
#Biden #believes #real #possibility #extending #ceasefire #Gaza #Strip
