Biden Hopeful Ceasefire in Gaza Just Days Away

U.S. President Biden said on Monday that he is hopeful negotiators will reach a deal that would pause Israel’s military operations in Gaza within the week.

The ceasefire agreement would be in exchange for the release of some of the hostages being held by Hamas in the war-torn territory, according to reports.

Biden, who provided a spontaneous update on hostage negotiations while responding to reporters’ questions, was in New York City after taping a segment for NBC’s Late Night With Seth Meyers.

The president’s remarks on the ceasefire deal come after active negotiations resulted in Israeli officials tentatively agreeing to terms that would lead to a six-week pause in fighting in exchange for the release of roughly 40 hostages, according to The New York Times. Israeli officials are scheduled to meet in Qatar with mediators from that nation, the United States and Egypt, the outlet reported.

While speaking with reporters during a stop at an ice-cream shop in New York City, Biden appeared to be hopeful when discussing a potential ceasefire deal.

When asked if he had a sense of when the ceasefire would start, the president said, “I hope by the end of the weekend.”

“My national security adviser tells me that we’re close,” Biden continued. “We’re close. We’re not done yet. My hope is by next Monday, we’ll have a ceasefire.”

Newsweek reached out via email on Monday night to representatives for Biden and the Israel Defense Forces for comment.

The war between Israel and Hamas has dragged on since the militant Palestinian group attacked Israel on October 7, which left roughly 1,200 people dead, with an estimated 250 people taken hostage, according to Israeli authorities. In response to Hamas’ deadly raid, Israel launched its heaviest-ever ground and air offensive in Gaza, which has killed nearly 30,000 Palestinians in the territory and displaced more than 80 percent of Gaza’s 2.3 million population, according to the Associated Press, citing the Gaza Health Ministry.

The Palestinian civilian death toll and harrowing images of dead children among the rubble of bombed buildings sparked mounting international calls for a ceasefire and have heightened pressure on Biden to take a tougher line on Israel.

Despite the condemnation over civilian deaths and demands for a ceasefire, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly said that the army will continue its offensive to destroy Hamas, to bring home the remaining hostages and to stop Gaza from posing a threat.

While the U.S. has provided longtime ally Israel with military assistance amid the fighting, Biden has urged Netanyahu to limit civilian casualties in Gaza, but the president has been heavily criticized for not doing enough as the bloodshed continues.