Biden Hopes for Israel-Hamas Cease-Fire Soon

President Biden expressed cautious optimism on Monday regarding the prospects of a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas, indicating a potential timeline of within the next week. This statement came following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s announcement that Israel was actively working on a deal to secure the release of its hostages.

During a visit to a Manhattan ice cream shop, where he stopped after appearing on Seth Myers’ late-night talk show, Biden shared his hope that a cease-fire could be achieved “by the end of the weekend.” He revealed that National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan had informed him that they were on the verge of a deal, though no formal agreement had been reached as of yet.

While Biden refrained from providing specific details about the terms of the potential cease-fire, he has previously advocated for a six-week cessation of hostilities and the release of hostages held by Hamas. Reports suggest that negotiators are currently discussing a proposal that would coincide with the holy month of Ramadan.

The president has been actively pushing for a cease-fire in Gaza to facilitate the delivery of additional humanitarian aid to the region, which has been embroiled in conflict for months following Hamas’ initial attack on southern Israel, prompting a military response from Israel.

A potential cease-fire agreement could also involve a prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas. Netanyahu recently tweeted that the Israeli government was “working to obtain another outline for the release of our hostages.”

Since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, the only significant pause in hostilities was a multi-day ceasefire in late November. During this period, Hamas released approximately 100 hostages held in Gaza, while Israel released around 240 Palestinian prisoners, according to reports from NBC News.

The relationship between Israel and Hamas has been strained, with no formal cease-fire agreement in place since the one secured last November. Netanyahu rejected Hamas’ proposed four-and-a-half-month cease-fire and hostage release deal in early February, insisting that “there is no other solution but a complete and final victory.”

The United States, after vetoing a UN resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire, has intensified its efforts in recent weeks to secure a halt to the fighting and secure the release of hostages. This push comes as casualties in the densely populated Gaza Strip continue to mount, and as Israel prepares for a potential ground invasion of the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

Since the start of the conflict, over 29,000 people in Gaza and approximately 1,200 in Israel have been killed, according to figures from the Hamas-controlled Health Ministry and Israeli officials,