President Biden said Monday he’s hopeful a ceasefire could come in Gaza before next week, but stressed there was a long way to go until a deal could be finalized.
“I hope by the end of the weekend,” Mr. Biden told reporters in New York, where he traveled to tape an interview with late-night host Seth Meyers.
“My national security advisor tells me that we’re close, we’re not done yet. My hope is by next Monday we’ll have a ceasefire,” he continued.
Mr. Biden’s remarks came shortly after Israel agreed to an updated framework that would establish a six-week cease-fire in Gaza in exchange for the release of 40 hostages.
Talks are ongoing in Paris in which officials from the U.S., Israel, Qatar and Egypt are negotiating the potential ceasefire.
Israel said it’s waiting to hear back from Hamas on whether it will accept the updated language from the discussions.
However, the Jewish state is still moving forward with plans to move into Rafah, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posting on X that his Cabinet has approved both operational and evacuation plans on the southern Gazan city.
As part of the deal, Israel has also agreed to release more jailed Palestinians than they had previously agreed to set free. Up to 400 prisoners, whom Hamas call “hostages,” could be released under the new deal.