Biden Lauds Israel-Hamas Deal, Vows Release of All American Hostages

President Joe Biden on Tuesday night lauded the ceasefire and hostage exchange agreement reached by Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas and urged the release of all American citizens being held in Gaza.

The deal — brokered by officials in the United States, Qatar and Egypt — will allow for the release of 50 women and children who Hamas has held hostage for nearly seven weeks. In exchange, Israel will release some 150 Palestinian prisoners and both factions will pause combat operations for at least four days.

Among the 50 hostages are two American women and a 3-year-old girl, Abigail Mor Idan, whose parents were killed during Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel. The militant group killed some 1,200 people and took more than 200 hostages back to Gaza.

Just two, an American mother and daughter, had been released prior to Tuesday’s ceasefire agreement. A total of 10 Americans remain unaccounted for in the wake of Hamas’ attack and are presumed to be hostages.

“Jill and I have been keeping all those held hostage and their loved ones close to our hearts these many weeks, and I am extraordinarily gratified that some of these brave souls, who have endured weeks of captivity and an unspeakable ordeal, will be reunited with their families once this deal is fully implemented,” Biden said in his statement.

The ceasefire will also extend a lifeline to those living in Gaza, as dozens of trucks carrying humanitarian relief aid will be allowed into the Palestinian territory, which has been under siege by Israel since the Oct. 7 attack.

Israeli military forces and a relentless bombing campaign have killed more than 14,000 people, including more than 5,000 children, and wounded more than 33,000, according to Gaza’s health ministry.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said early Wednesday that the ceasefire will be extended one day for every 10 additional hostages Hamas frees, but vowed to continue his nation’s military campaign in Gaza in pursuit of “the elimination of Hamas.”

National security officials have worked tirelessly with officials in Qatar, Egypt and other regional partners since the Oct. 7 attack in an effort to free the hostages, Biden said Tuesday, crediting the deal to “tireless diplomacy and determination” across the U.S. government.

“We saw the first results of that effort in late October when two Americans were reunited with their loved ones,” Biden said. “Today’s deal should bring home additional American hostages, and I will not stop until they are all released.”