Key Takeaways
- The United States anticipates that Hamas will release additional Israeli hostages in the coming days.
- President Joe Biden emphasized the releases are the start of a broader process to reunite families.
- Biden also called for renewed efforts toward a two-state solution and a possible extension of the humanitarian pause.
Washington: The United States expects Palestinian movement Hamas to release more Israeli hostages in the next few days, US President Joe Biden said on Friday.
He added that these releases are the start of a process and that dozens of hostages are expected to return to their families over the coming days.
“As I said, today’s releases are the start of a process, we expect more hostages to be released tomorrow, more the day after and more the day after that. Over the next few days, we expect that dozens of hostages will be returned to their families. We also remember all those who are still being held and renew our commitment to work for their release as well,” Biden said during a press conference.
The US president also said that fresh efforts are needed to resolve the conflict between Israel and Palestine within the framework of a “two-state solution“.
When asked if there is a chance that the humanitarian pause between Israel and Hamas can be extended, Biden said that “the chances are real.”
