Live Update arrow right icon From the Liveblog of Friday, November 24, 2023

Hamas only responds to pressure, Biden says, falling in line with Israeli stance

By Jacob Magid 24 November 2023, 10:20 pm 2 Edit

Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief

US President Joe Biden speaks to reporters in Nantucket, Mass., on Nov. 24, 2023, about hostages freed by Hamas in the first stage of a swap under a four-day ceasefire deal. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
US President Joe Biden speaks to reporters in Nantucket, Mass., on Nov. 24, 2023, about hostages freed by Hamas in the first stage of a swap under a four-day ceasefire deal. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Asked whether he trusts Hamas, Biden responds pointedly, “I don’t trust Hamas to do anything right. I only trust Hamas to respond to pressure.”

This response falls in line with the Israeli position, which maintains that the ongoing hostage deal would not have been possible without Israel’s intensive military operation in Gaza.

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