“It’s just the beginning, but so far it’s going well,” said Joe Biden on Friday about the release of the first hostages kidnapped by Hamas, saying he was “grateful.”
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The American president also estimated that there were “real chances” of extending the four-day ceasefire agreed between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist movement in the Gaza Strip, which came into force at dawn on Friday.
“Today, let us be grateful to all the families who are reunited and to those who will soon be reunited,” the 81-year-old Democrat said the day after the American holiday of Thanksgiving (“to thank” in French). which he spent with his family on the very posh island of Nantucket on the east coast.
“All of these hostages have been through a terrible ordeal and this is the beginning of a long journey of healing for them,” Joe Biden added, suggesting they were present for his “prayers.”
“In the coming days we expect the reunification of dozens of hostages with their families,” said the American president.
“We also remember those who are still in captivity and we promise to work for their release,” he said, referring in particular to the fate of three American citizens, including a four-year-old girl, who were not included in the group of people released on Friday.
“We must renew our commitment to a two-state solution” between Israel and the Palestinians, reaffirmed Joe Biden, saying this is “more important than ever.”
“Continuing the path of terrorism, violence, murder and war would mean giving Hamas what it wants,” assured the American president.
He said he “encourages Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to focus on reducing civilian casualties as he seeks to eliminate Hamas, which is a legitimate goal.”
“It is a difficult task. What I expect and hope is that the rest of the Arab world (…) will put pressure on all parties (…) to stop this as quickly as possible,” he said.
The United States played an important role in the negotiations that led to the first release of hostages, an agreement that came about thanks to Qatar’s mediation and with the support of Egypt.