Staff Reports
In a controversial move, President Joe Biden has reportedly requested a three-day pause in Israel's ongoing conflict with Hamas to facilitate the release of additional hostages. According to Axios, Biden confirmed this discussion with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. They are considering a temporary cessation of hostilities to allow Hamas to release 10-15 hostages.
Biden Asked Netanyahu For Three-Day Pause To Allow Hostages To Be Freed: REPORThttps://t.co/GKtzlDqEEN
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) November 8, 2023
Since the onset of Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7th, the terrorist group has kidnapped at least 240 individuals, including some Americans. Currently, the United States, Israel, and Qatar are in talks concerning this proposed pause. During this pause, Hamas would verify the hostages' identities and share this information with the United States. However, Israeli officials have expressed skepticism about whether Hamas can be relied upon to honor their commitments. They are also concerned about the potential loss of international support if Israel were to suspend its military operations for three days.
This development follows President Biden's earlier call for a cessation of hostilities after he was confronted by a heckler demanding a ceasefire. Biden responded by saying, "I think we need a pause. A pause means giving time to get the prisoners out. I'm the guy that convinced Bibi to call for a ceasefire to let the prisoners out. I'm the guy that talked to Sisi to convince him to open the door." This statement underscores Biden's involvement in the negotiation process, referring to Netanyahu and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
Although the United States is concerned that a broader ceasefire may primarily benefit Hamas, White House national security advisor John Kirby has stated that the country supports a humanitarian pause to facilitate the release of hostages. As tensions in the region continue to escalate, all eyes are on Biden and Netanyahu as they navigate this delicate situation, carefully weighing the potential benefits against the risks of a three-day ceasefire.
