From the Liveblog of
Thursday, November 9, 2023
Biden: Netanyahu taking ‘longer than I hoped’ to agree to days-long humanitarian pause
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleJacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief
US President Joe Biden tells reporters he asked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to a humanitarian pause in the Gaza fighting that will last longer than three days.
Asked whether he’s frustrated with Netanyahu, who has yet to heed such calls, Biden responds: “It’s taken a little longer than I hoped.”
Biden clarifies, though, that there is “None. No possibility” of a more permanent ceasefire, which Washington says would benefit Hamas.
President Biden admitted that he asked PM Netanyahu for a pause in Gaza, which has not yet happened.
"He's taken a little longer than I hoped." pic.twitter.com/1VuqMwiixk
— The Maine Wire (@TheMaineWire) November 9, 2023
Biden is asked why the US struck Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps weapons storage facility last night in eastern Syria. “Because they struck us,” he responds.
Biden says the US will strike back again “If we have to.”
Biden says “we’re still optimistic” regarding efforts to release the hostages before taking off from Washington on Marine Force One.
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