United States President Joe Biden expressed his belief that a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas could begin by next Monday in a spontaneous statement he made during a visit to New York.
In response to reporters inquiring about when he expected a ceasefire could start, Biden said: “My national security adviser tells me that we’re close. We’re close. We’re not done yet. My hope is by next Monday, we’ll have a ceasefire.”
Over the weekend, Israel’s war cabinet approved a deal to halt fighting for several weeks in exchange for the release of hostages in Gaza.
Negotiations are ongoing between Israel and Hamas, with Egypt, Qatar, the United States and France acting as go-betweens.
The deal could also involve the release of several hundred Palestinian detainees held by Israel.
Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani — whose country hosts Hamas leaders and helped broker a one-week truce in November — is due in Paris this week, according to the French presidency.
