Current:Home > FinanceBiden says he hopes for Israel-Hamas cease-fire by Monday-DB Wealth Institute B2 Expert Reviews
Biden says he hopes for Israel-Hamas cease-fire by Monday
View Date:2024-12-23 23:24:47
Washington — President Biden said Monday that a deal between Israel and Hamas for a cease-fire in Gaza is close.
"My national security adviser tells me that we're close, we're close, it's not done yet. And my hope is that by next Monday we'll have a cease-fire," Mr. Biden told reporters during a stop in New York City.
Mr. Biden said earlier this month that the U.S. was working to negotiate a hostage deal between Israel and Hamas that would pause fighting in Gaza for at least six weeks. He said the deal would "bring an immediate and sustained period of calm to Gaza for at least six weeks, which we could then take the time to build something more enduring."
In an appearance that aired early Tuesday on NBC's "Late Night With Seth Meyers," the president said Israel would be willing to pause its assault during Ramadan if a deal is reached. The Muslim holy month begins around March 10.
"Ramadan's coming up and there has been an agreement by the Israelis that they would not engage in activities during Ramadan as well, in order to give us time to get all the hostages out," Mr. Biden said.
Mr. Biden, who has supported Israel's right to respond to the Oct. 7 terrorist attack by Hamas, has increasingly sharpened his criticism of Israel, calling its military operations in Gaza "over the top."
In early February, as Israel prepared for a ground operation in Rafah, a city near Egypt's border where more than one million displaced Palestinians are estimated to have taken refuge after fleeing fighting elsewhere in Gaza, Mr. Biden warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to proceed without a "credible" plan for ensuring the safety of the people sheltering there.
Netanyahu told "Face the Nation" on Sunday that a hostage deal would delay the Rafah operation, but said Israel would still move ahead with the operation at a later time.
"We can't leave the last Hamas stronghold without taking care of it, obviously, we have to do it," Netanyahu said. "But understand, too, that I've asked the army to submit to me a double plan, first to evacuate to enable the evacuation of the Palestinian civilians in Gaza, and, obviously, second, to destroy the remaining Hamas battalions."
"That gets us a real distance towards the completion of our victory, and that we're not going to give it up," he continued. "If we have a deal, it'll be delayed somewhat. But it'll happen. If we don't have a deal, we'll do it anyway. It has to be done. Because total victory is our goal, and total victory is within reach. Not months away, weeks away once we begin the operation."
- In:
- Hamas
- Israel
- Joe Biden
- Gaza Strip
- Benjamin Netanyahu
Caitlin Yilek is a politics reporter at cbsnews.com and is based in Washington, D.C. She previously worked for the Washington Examiner and The Hill, and was a member of the 2022 Paul Miller Washington Reporting Fellowship with the National Press Foundation.
TwitterveryGood! (5698)
Related
- High-scoring night in NBA: Giannis Antetokounmpo explodes for 59, Victor Wembanyama for 50
- How Much Would Trump’s Climate Rule Rollbacks Worsen Health and Emissions?
- Michigan's abortion ban is blocked for now
- How can we help humans thrive trillions of years from now? This philosopher has a plan
- Vegas Sphere reports revenue decline despite hosting UFC 306, Eagles residency
- Pence officially files paperwork to run for president, kicking off 2024 bid
- 16 migrants flown to California on chartered jet and left outside church: Immoral and disgusting
- Olivia Culpo Shares Why She's Having a Hard Time Nailing Down Her Wedding Dress Design
- Dave Coulier Says He's OK If This Is the End Amid Stage 3 Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Battle
- Edward Garvey
Ranking
- Does your dog have arthritis? A lot of them do. But treatment can be tricky
- U.S. Unprepared to Face Costs of Climate Change, GAO Says
- New York City Sets Ambitious Climate Rules for Its Biggest Emitters: Buildings
- U.S. Unprepared to Face Costs of Climate Change, GAO Says
- College football top five gets overhaul as Georgia, Miami both tumble in US LBM Coaches Poll
- Star Wars Day 2023: Shop Merch and Deals From Stoney Clover Lane, Fanatics, Amazon, and More
- Why Worry About Ticks? This One Almost Killed Me
- Marijuana use is outpacing cigarette use for the first time on record
Recommendation
-
Lunchables get early dismissal: Kraft Heinz pulls the iconic snack from school lunches
-
Andrew Callegari
-
Cisco Rolls Out First ‘Connected Grid’ Solution in Major Smart Grid Push
-
Natural Gas Flaring: Critics and Industry Square Off Over Emissions
-
Caitlin Clark's gold Nike golf shoes turn heads at The Annika LPGA pro-am
-
At 988 call centers, crisis counselors offer empathy — and juggle limited resources
-
Today’s Climate: May 11, 2010
-
Some bars are playing a major role in fighting monkeypox in the LGBTQ community