Biden says he doesn’t expect Gaza prisoner deal anytime soon
WASHINGTON (AA) – US President Joe Biden threw cold water Wednesday on prospects for a new deal to secure the release of Israelis held by Hamas, but maintained his senior officials are continuing to pursue a breakthrough.
Asked about the prospects for a deal materializing anytime soon, Biden told reporters, “there’s no expectation at this point, but we are pushing.”
An estimated 239 people were taken prisoners by Hamas during its Oct. 7 attack on Israeli military check-posts.
Several were released in November during a weeklong halt to the Israeli attacks in Gaza. Israel released 3 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons in exchange for every one of its people.
Israel estimates that over 130 still remain in Hamas captivity.
Israel has killed more than 19,600 Palestinians, most of them women and children, since October, according to health officials in the enclave. Israel’s bombing and ground campaign has also resulted in widespread devastation in the coastal enclave and rampant shortages of food and water.
Asked by reporters about expectations that the Palestinian death toll will soon surpass 20,000, Biden said, “it’s tragic.”
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