Posted on 05/20/21
| News Source: The Hill
President Biden on Thursday said that a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas would begin in under two hours, celebrating the development and pledging to continue U.S. diplomatic efforts.
Biden credited the “intense diplomatic engagement” of his team as well as the work of other parties in the region, including Egyptian officials, in bringing about the agreement for a cease-fire after fighting caused massive destruction and death in the region over the past week and a half.
“We have held intensive high-level discussions hour by hour, literally … with an aim of avoiding the sort of prolonged conflict we have seen in previous years when hostilities have broken out,” Biden said in brief remarks from Cross Hall on Thursday evening that were hastily scheduled following news of a cease-fire agreement.
“I believe the Palestinians and Israelis equally deserve to live in safety and security and enjoy equal measures of freedom, prosperity and democracy,” Biden said. “My administration will continue our quiet and relentless diplomacy toward that end. I believe we have a genuine opportunity to make progress and I am committed to working toward it.”
Join BJL on WhatsApp Status: Click here to Join BJL status for engagements, births, deals, levayos, events & more
Join BJL on WhatsApp Groups: Click here to Join an official BJL WhatsApp group for breaking news as it happens
Biden said that he spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, who informed him Israel had agreed to a “mutual, unconditional cease-fire” to begin in less than two hours. Biden also said that the Egyptians gave the U.S. assurances that Hamas and other militant groups would abide by the cease-fire.
In the call with Netanyahu, Biden said that he reiterated U.S. support for Israel’s right to defend itself from attacks from Hamas and other terror groups and said the U.S. would help replenish Israel’s Iron Dome system.
Biden also committed to working with the United Nations to provide humanitarian assistance for the Gaza reconstruction efforts, which he said the U.S. would do “in full partnership with the Palestinian Authority – not Hamas – the Authority, in a manner that does not permit Hamas to simply restock its nuclear arsenal.”
Biden did not answer a shouted question about whether he believed the cease-fire would last. Read more at The Hill