US President Joe Biden on Tuesday urged Israel and Hamas to reach an agreement. achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, in addition to facilitating the entry of humanitarian aid.
“This is the moment for himParties finalize terms“We must return the hostages and ensure the security of Israel and Gaza, alleviate the suffering in Gaza and end this war,” Biden told the United Nations General Assembly in his final address to the body as president.
The president deplored the deaths and suffering of innocent civilians, both Israeli and Palestinian, due to the war in Gaza. He first spoke of the 1,200 people killed and the 250 hostages taken by the Islamist group Hamas during its attack on Israel on October 7. “I met with the families of these hostages. I cried with them. They go through hell“, said.
He also referred to the pain caused by Israel’s response to the attack with a war in the Gaza Strip that caused more than 41,400 deathshas displaced thousands of people and triggered a humanitarian crisis with severe restrictions on aid entry. “Innocent civilians in Gaza are also living in hell. Thousands and thousands dead, including aid workers. Too many families displaced, crammed under tents, facing a desperate humanitarian situation,” he said.
The United States tried, without success, to mediate between Hamas and Israel, as well as Qatar and Egypt to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of Israeli hostages. However, after several rounds of negotiations, the conflict threatens to spill over into Lebanon, where the Shiite group Hezbollah has been engaged in constant exchanges of fire with the Israeli army since the start of the Gaza war.
