"I think we need a break." On Wednesday, Trump was speaking at a fundraising event when a member of the audience asked him about the conflict between Israel and Hamas: "As a rabbi, I ask you to call for an immediate ceasefire." Joe Biden responded by saying he was in favor of "a pause" in order to "give time to get the prisoners out" of the enclave.
The White House, when asked about the remarks, later clarified that by "prisoners" the 80-year-old president, who is running for a second term, was referring to Hamas hostages. At least 240 people remain in the hands of the Palestinian Islamist movement since their abduction on October 7, according to Israeli authorities. A spokesman for Hamas' military wing said Tuesday that the Palestinian movement would release foreign hostages "in the coming days."
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"I was the one who convinced Bibi (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu) to call for a ceasefire to get the prisoners out. I am the one who spoke to (Egyptian President) Sisi to convince him to open the door," namely the Rafah crossing in the southern Gaza Strip, he said. The U.S. executive then indicated that it was referring to the recent release of two American hostages from the Palestinian Islamist group.
The "leading role" of the United States
The White House has so far refused to talk about a ceasefire, saying it would play into Hamas' hands, but has already called for "humanitarian pauses" to allow aid to be delivered or evacuations carried out.
An initial evacuation operation on Wednesday allowed 76 wounded Palestinians and 335 foreigners and dual nationals, according to an Egyptian official, to leave the territory via the Rafah border crossing, the only one not controlled by Israeli forces. Joe Biden welcomed this operation, assuring that it had been made possible thanks to the "leading role" of the United States, with the help of Qatar. The war between Israel and Hamas entered its 26th day on Wednesday.
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At the same time, both Democrats and Republicans want to pass military aid for Israel, a longtime partner of the United States, without delay. Will they confine themselves to financial support from Israel? Or will they adopt President Biden's staggering package of funds for Gaza, Ukraine and partners in Asia? The 80-year-old Democrat estimated that he would need just over $9 billion to respond to international humanitarian crises, including in the Gaza Strip. The U.S. Congress begins work on this thorny issue on Thursday.