Biden brushes off journalist’s inquiry about striking deal for Gaza detainees

The US President Joe Biden evaded a response when asked if he had any chance of achieving a ceasefire and repatriating Israeli prisoners in the Gaza strip before the conclusion of his tenure.

According to report, an Israeli journalist questioned President Biden at the White House on Tuesday.

The journalist reportedly inquired whether a deal could be reached by January.

The outgoing president responded: “Do you think you can keep from getting hit in the head by a camera behind you?”

A White House transcript claims that Biden made the remark at the beginning of a meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in the Oval Office, where they were surrounded by cameras and reporters.

Neria Kraus, the journalist who posed the question, shared a video on the social media platform X.

“The political reality is such that President Biden, who’s committed to bring the hostages home, was not able to give me a clear answer about this very critical question regarding getting a hostage deal by the end of his term”, wrote Kraus.

The prime minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu has been accused of undermining attempts to halt the war in order to maintain his far-right administration in office.

This accusation has come from both inside and outside of Israel.

He infuriated the nation by dismissing Yoav Gallant, his defense minister.

Israeli officials have reported no significant ongoing talks on Gaza.

This is despite Israel’s new foreign minister Gideon Saar saying this week that “certain progress” has been made in talks for a truce in Lebanon.

Reports disclosed that Hezbollah maintains it has not yet received any peace proposal.

Donald Trump’s re-election as US president has some in Gaza and Lebanon.

They are reportedly worried that it would mean more catastrophe for the uprooted and beleaguered populations in both countries.

Biden reaffirmed: “My commitment to Israel is ironclad and we share a deep friendship” during his meeting with Herzog.

In addition to talking about the most recent Hezbollah strikes on Israel, the Israeli president pointed out that more than 400 days after the war on the enclave began, Israel still holds 101 hostages in the Gaza Strip.

Herzog stated that they must be securely returned to Israel “as they are going through hell in the dungeons of Gaza”.

Biden agreed with Herzog on this, according to report.

Qatar announced that it has halted its attempts to mediate a settlement between Israel and Hamas until both sides demonstrate “their willingness and seriousness” to put an end to the conflict in Gaza.

Eight humanitarian relief organizations earlier issued warnings about a 30-day deadline issued to Israel.

But US maintained it will continue to support Israel after the deadline.

The 30-day deadline was issued to Israel, to increase aid to Gaza or risk cuts to weapons financing.

As Israel rejected starvation forecasts in the enclave as “slanderous”, Joyce Msuya claimed the world is “witnessing acts reminiscent of the gravest international crimes in Gaza”.

Joyce Msuya is the acting head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

The Israel forces continued their move in the northern part of the enclave and hammered Gaza.

They reportedly started attacks on Beirut on Wednesday.

The force further issued new orders for forced relocation for the communities of Haret Hreik and Ghobeiry in Lebanon.

Since October 7, 2023, Israel’s war in Gaza has resulted in at least 43,712 Palestinian deaths and 103,258 injuries.

During that day’s Hamas-led strikes in Israel, an estimated 1,139 people were murdered and over 200 were captured.

Since the start of the war on Gaza, Israeli attacks in Lebanon have resulted in at least 3,287 fatalities and 14,222 injuries.

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