US President Joe Biden said the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip “is in the hands of Hamas”, as negotiations continue on an understanding that would combine a pause in fighting with the release of hostages.
“It’s in the hands of Hamas right now,” Biden told reporters as he boarded the US presidential plane at Hagerstown airport. He stressed that “the Israelis have been cooperating” and that a ceasefire is necessary.
With that, Biden still called the agreement a “rational offer” and pointed out that the Israelis agreed with it.
“We have to see what Hamas does,” he commented.
At another point, the US president highlighted that, if there is no agreement by Ramadan, the situation in Israel and, specifically, in Jerusalem would be “very, very dangerous”.
Furthermore, when asked about his relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden noted that it is “as it has always been”. He repeated the assertion that there are “no excuses” for Israel not to allow more aid to Gaza.
