President Biden expressed his hope for an uninterrupted ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, as long as the latter continues to release hostages. On Sunday, after the four-year-old Avigail Idan was released, Biden shared his optimism for the extension of the ceasefire by one day for every 10 hostages freed by Hamas.
It was the third group of hostages that Hamas released as part of the ceasefire under which nearly 240 hostages were expected to be released, including 50 women and children. Israel had identified 10 of its citizens in Hamas custody prior to the exchange deal, with one confirmed release on Sunday.
Additionally, President Biden affirmed the release of Avigail Idan and the ongoing efforts required to secure the remaining American hostages held by Hamas. Regarding the exchange, the White House insists that Hamas must release all of the American hostages to maintain the existing ceasefire.
Amid these developments, Republican Senator Tom Cotton stated that the U.S. needs to launch a “massive retaliation” to halt attacks on American positions in the Middle East, and urged the current administration to impose tougher measures on Iran. He criticized the lack of action on U.S. Intelligence’s reports of more than 150 attacks from Iran since President Biden took office.
Meanwhile, experts have raised concerns about the indirect financial support that Hamas and Palestinian terrorists receive via the Palestinian Authority. The release of convicted Palestinian terrorists by Hamas, facilitated through U.S. and European funding, has sparked criticisms, particularly regarding the payment of salaries to imprisoned terrorists and the families of martyrs by the Palestinian Authority.
As the situation unfolds, the safe release of American, Israeli, and foreign hostages remains a priority for leaders in Israel and the United States. With ongoing efforts to maintain the ceasefire, optimize aid, and ensure the safety of hostages, the pursuit of peace and stability in the region continues.
