Biden confirms ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas: after months of intense diplomacy
Current US President Joe Biden has confirmed that after months of intense diplomacy, Israel and Hamas have agreed through intermediaries to a ceasefire and the release of hostages.
This is stated in a statement by Biden published on the White House website, Censor.NET reports.
Biden expressed hope that this agreement would stop the fighting in the Gaza Strip.
"Today (January 15 - ed.), after months of intense diplomacy by the United States, along with Egypt and Qatar, Israel and Hamas reached a ceasefire and hostage agreement. This agreement will stop the fighting in Gaza, increase the amount of much-needed humanitarian aid to the Palestinian civilian population, and reunite hostages with their families after more than 15 months of detention," the White House chief said.
The current U.S. president noted that he proposed the outlines of this plan on May 31, 2024, after which it was unanimously approved by the UN Security Council.
"This is the result not only of the extraordinary pressure put on Hamas and the changing regional balance after the ceasefire in Lebanon and the weakening of Iran, but also of persistent and painstaking American diplomacy," the politician said.
Biden added that it is time to stop the fighting in Gaza and start working to build peace and security. He also reminded that Hamas is holding three American hostages.
"As part of this agreement, we are determined to bring them all home," the White House chief emphasized.
Earlier, American media reported that on Wednesday, January 15, Israel and Hamas reached an agreement on a ceasefire and the release of all hostages.
It was also reported earlier that on January 11, US President-elect Donald Trump's special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, arrived in Israel to seek a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all hostages held by Hamas.
