Biden said we can be thankful for families being reunited in remarks
President Joe Biden said we can be thankful for the families being “reunited with loved ones” following the initial group of hostages released as a part of a four-day truce between Israel and Hamas.
“This morning I've been engaged with my team as we began the first difficult days of implementing this deal. It's only a start, but so far it's gone well,” Biden said in remarks Friday.
The released hostages include 13 Israelis, 10 Thai citizens and 1 Filipino citizen, according to Qatar's foreign ministry. A total of 50 hostages could be freed over the four-day pause in flighting, while Palestinian prisoners are also due to be released in waves.
Biden said over the next few days, they expect 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,” he said.
“All of these hostages have been through a terrible ordeal, and this is the beginning of a long journey of healing for them,” Biden said. “The teddy bears waiting to greet those children at the hospital are a stark reminder of the trauma these children have been through and at such a very young age.”
Biden said Hamas “unleashed this terrorist attack because they fear nothing more than Israelis and Palestinians living side by side in peace.”
“As we look to the future, we have to end this cycle of violence in the Middle East. We need to renew our resolve to pursue this two-state solution where Israelis and Palestinians can one day live side by side in a two-state solution with equal measure of freedom and dignity,” Biden said
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