White House denies Biden’s urging of Israel ‘to just call for a ceasefire’ marks policy shift

The White House flatly denies a shift in policy after US President Joe Biden called on Israel to agree to a six-to-eight week ceasefire.

While Biden appeared to be calling on Israel to unilaterally agree to a ceasefire because he made no mention of Hamas or a hostage deal in the Univision interview recorded last week and that aired tonight, a senior White House official says Biden was referring to the truce that is currently being negotiated by his administration, which would see some 40 hostages released over a six-to-eight week period.

“There is no change in our position. The president was reiterating our longstanding position: we are calling for an immediate ceasefire that would last for at least six weeks as part of a hostage deal,” the official says.

“His quote [to Univision] makes that clear. This is in line with what he said at the State of the Union, and that we’ve repeatedly said,” the senior White House official adds.