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Biden praises Israel’s rescue of hostages, but continues pushing for ceasefire

President Joe Biden stressed that Washington’s priority was to establish an immediate ceasefire for at least six weeks.

By World Israel News Staff

The Biden administration publicly praised the rescue of two Israeli hostages from Gaza on Monday, but the president is still at odds with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the direction of the war and a ceasefire deal.

The White House was “pleased to hear the news of two Israeli hostages freed last night by Israeli Defense Forces in Rafah after 128 days” U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said during a media conference shortly after the rescue operation.

But Kirby was quick to emphasize that Washington believes negotiations between Israel and the Hamas terror group, and not military operations, are the key to freeing the captives.

“The greatest number of hostages safely released were done through a hostage deal, [through] a pause in the fighting. That is why we are putting so much effort into current negotiations. We believe that is the best way to get hostages in greater numbers for our safety,” he said.

Kirby added that a “prolonged humanitarian pause is also essential to bringing critical relief” to Gazans. He did not acknowledge that much of the humanitarian aid brought into the Strip is seized and hoarded by Hamas, never reaching Gazan civilians.

At a press conference on Monday alongside Jordanian King Abdullah II, President Joe Biden stressed that Washington’s priority was to establish an immediate ceasefire for at least six weeks.

That pause, Biden said, would give the U.S. and its allies “to build something more enduring” that would ensure a permanent end to the conflict.

“The key elements of the deal are around the table,” Biden said. “There are gaps that remain but I have encouraged Israeli leaders to keep working to get the deal. The U.S. will do everything possible to make it happen.”

Biden and Netanyahu are reportedly butting heads over the conflict, with the Israeli premier resisting American pressure for a ceasefire.

In private conversations, Biden allegedly referred to Netanyahu using a number of expletives, including a “bad f–ing guy” and an “a–hole.”