“We have to release these hostages and then we can talk,” President Joe Biden said Monday as Hamas released two more hostages amid further rising tensions and deaths in the Middle East.
Speaking at an event in DC to announce investment in local tech hubs and discuss the economy, Biden’s comments came in response to a reporter’s question about whether the US is facing a “strike and “desist” agreement will seek in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.
Today’s release of Nurit Cooper, 79, and Yocheved Lifshitz, 85, now confirmed by the Israeli government, dominated coverage on CNN, MSNBC, Fox News and BBC World News. Biden’s speech and remarks were not broadcast live online, unlike a press conference by National Security Council spokesman John Kirby earlier in the day.
Although he did not specifically name the hostages, Biden interrupted his remarks as news of their release spread. “My apologies, I have to go to the situation room with another issue I’m dealing with,” the president said before quickly leaving the conference.
The release of the two women comes less than 72 hours after the release of Israeli-Americans Judith and Natalie Raanan.
On October 7, Hamas terrorists raided Israel’s border towns and military camps, killing and abducting up to 1,400 people and abducting dozens more, including many with dual citizenship. At least 10 Americans are still “on the list,” Kirby told Fox News this afternoon.
Appears on MSNBC’s Deadline: White House After his appearance on Fox, Kirby referred to one of the battles arising from this latest conflict in the Middle East as a “battle for history.”
In both cases of hostage release, the Red Cross and Arab states were reportedly involved, mediating the process with Hamas. Strong US support for Israel, Secretary of State Tony Blinken’s behind-the-scenes actions and the growing US military presence have made the terrorist organization aware of how important it is for the Biden administration to see the more than 200 hostages. free, especially the Americans among them.
Biden’s brief remarks came nearly an hour after news of the hostages’ recent release broke at 11:15 a.m. PT broke, while giving a speech and attending a conference on his economic policy, the self-styled Bidenomics.
Today’s release of the hostages also follows a joint statement from the White House this weekend, attended by Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak gave a joint statement reaffirming “their support for Israel and its right to defend itself against terrorism and calling for compliance with international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians.”
Israel’s long-awaited ground invasion of Gaza, with hundreds of thousands of troops ready at the border in recent days, was reportedly postponed at Biden’s private request to secure the release of more hostages. Israel has carried out hundreds of airstrikes on targets in the Gaza Strip in the past two weeks. A mass evacuation of Gaza City is underway awaiting the arrival of the IDF as the humanitarian crisis has exploded, leaving thousands of Palestinians dead and many more injured.
Last week, in a rare Oval Office speech, POTUS called for a $106 billion aid package to help Israel, Ukraine fight Russia and US border security. Senate Republicans such as Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) supported the package, but with the House still without a speaker in the last two weeks due to infighting among Republicans, the proposal has not advanced.
Source: Deadline
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