Title: President Biden Demands Release of Hostages Before Considering Ceasefire with Hamas
Date: [Insert Date]
President Joe Biden made it clear on Monday that he will not entertain the notion of a ceasefire in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict until all hostages held by Hamas are freed. Speaking during a press conference, Biden emphasized the importance of having the hostages released before any talks can take place.
“We should have those hostages released and then we can talk,” President Biden stated in response to a question about a possible ceasefire in exchange for the release of around 200 hostages, including Americans, believed to be held in the Gaza Strip by Hamas.
Despite growing pressure from liberal Democrats to facilitate a ceasefire amidst rising casualties among Palestinians and the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, President Biden remains steadfast in prioritizing the safe release of the hostages.
The President recently spoke with Judith and Natalie Raanan, American citizens who were held captive by Hamas for 13 days. Their release was a positive step forward, but President Biden stressed that all hostages must be freed before any further progress can be made.
Meanwhile, the State Department expressed staunch support for Israel’s right to defend itself. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller highlighted the potential risks of a ceasefire by arguing that it could provide Hamas with an opportunity to regroup and relaunch terrorist attacks against Israel.
Miller said, “Any ceasefire would give Hamas the ability to rest, to refit, and to get ready to continue launching terrorist attacks against Israel. You can understand perfectly clearly why that’s an intolerable situation for Israel, as it would be an intolerable situation for any country that has suffered such a brutal terrorist attack.”
Hamas has recently released two Israeli women as well as two American hostages, a mother and daughter. However, President Biden remains committed to securing the release of all remaining hostages.
In response to the escalating conflict, the Pentagon has announced the deployment of additional troops to the Middle East. This move aims to prevent Iran and Hezbollah from further exacerbating the Israel-Hamas war. The United States has identified an increase in rocket and drone attacks by Iranian-backed proxy groups on military bases housing US personnel in Iraq and Syria.
John Kirby, a White House spokesman, confirmed the U.S.’s decision to bolster its military presence in the region. He emphasized that the U.S. is deeply concerned about the potential for further escalation and that President Biden has instructed Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to take appropriate measures to address the situation.
Kirby also expressed the U.S.’s awareness of Iran’s involvement in facilitating and inciting attacks through proxy groups. He vowed that the U.S. would not allow Iran to exploit the conflict for its own interests.
As tensions continue to rise in the Middle East, President Biden is closely monitoring the developments and plans to convene in the White House Situation Room to discuss the ongoing conflict.
For updates on this story and more, follow Joey Garrison on X, formerly known as Twitter, @joeygarrison.
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