US President Joe Biden believes progress has been made in talks to release hostages from the radical Palestinian movement Hamas and for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
„We are making real progress. „I met with the negotiators today“, the American leader told reporters at the White House.
“I still have hope that we can do a prisoner exchange“, Biden added, referring to the exchange of hostages held in Gaza for Palestinian prisoners.
“Hamas is currently preventing such an exchange, but I think we can and should achieve this”.
Biden also said that he had had a telephone conversation with the newly elected President of Lebanon, Joseph Aoun. In this regard, the American leader stressed that the Lebanese Armed Forces “must be accountable to the Lebanese people, not to Hamas, Hezbollah” or any other group”.
On Thursday, the commander of the Lebanese army, General Aoun, won the second round of voting to elect the president of the republic, which was held in parliament. 99 out of 128 lawmakers voted for his candidacy.
US President-elect Donald Trump said in December 2024 that he had demanded that Hamas release the hostages before he took office. He threatened serious consequences if this did not happen. Trump's inauguration will take place on January 20.