US President Biden stated that a prisoner agreement was close for the Israelis captured by Hamas on October 7.
“I BELIEVE IT IS SO”
Biden answered the question about the captives in Gaza at the “turkey pardoning ceremony”, a Thanksgiving tradition held every year at the White House.
Asked whether an agreement to release captives in Gaza is close, Biden said: “I believe so.” he replied.
Biden did not share further details on the issue and said he was “not ready to talk.”
CLAIM OF POWER EXCHANGE BETWEEN HAMAS AND ISRAEL
The US press had claimed that a prisoner exchange agreement between Hamas and Israel, in which Palestinian women and children prisoners would be released, could be announced within a few days.
Speaking to The Washington Post, an unnamed senior Israeli official claimed that Israel and Hamas “agreed on the general lines of the prisoner exchange agreement” and stated that it was planned to release Israeli and Palestinian women and children simultaneously in groups.
White House National Security Council Spokesperson Adrienne Watson shared the news on her social media platform X account yesterday and said, “We have not reached an agreement yet, but we continue to work hard to reach an agreement.” he wrote.
Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdurrahman Al Thani, said in a statement today, “We only have minor difficulties ahead of us for a prisoner exchange between Hamas and Israel.” He used the expression. (AA)