Biden: ‘It’s time for this war to end, and for the day after to begin’

In concluding his address, US President Joe Biden says, “This has been one of the hardest, most complicated problems in the world.  There’s nothing easy about this — nothing easy about it.

“Through it all, though, the United States has worked relentlessly to support Israelis’ security, to get humanitarian supplies into Gaza, and to get a ceasefire and a hostage deal to bring this war to an end. Yesterday, with this new initiative, we’ve taken an important step in that direction.

He wraps up: “I want to level with you today as to where we are and what might be possible, but I need your help: Everyone who wants peace now must raise their voices and let the leaders know they should take this deal, work to make it real, make it lasting, and forge a better future out of the tragic terror attack and war.

“It’s time to begin this new stage, for the hostages to come home, for Israel to be secure, for the suffering to stop.

“It’s time for this war to end, and for the day after to begin.”