Biden says Gaza crowd crush, with dozens of reported casualties, will complicate hostage talks
US President Joe Biden says the United States is checking reports of dozens of Gazans killed earlier in Gaza City as they swarmed aid trucks that entered the city, and that the deadly incident will likely complicate talks on a temporary truce and hostage release deal.
Asked by reporters if he still expects a truce by Monday, Biden says: “Hope springs eternal. I was on the phone with the people in the region… Probably not by Monday, but I’m hopeful.”
Asked about the Gaza incident in which many civilians were killed, he says: “We’re checking that out right now. There’s two competing versions of what happened. I don’t have an answer yet.”
Asked whether this will complicate the hostage negotiations, Biden tells reporters: “I know it will.”
