Biden: ‘Agreement between Hamas and Israel close to signing’

The US President confirms the imminent conclusion of an understanding between the two sides in the conflict. On the table, the release of hostages and the cessation of hostilities. The White House intensifies efforts to end the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip

The ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel, with the release of the hostages, is one step closer to completion. This was confirmed by US President Joe Biden during his closing speech at the State Department, as negotiations continue unabated in Doha. ‘We are on the verge of seeing the proposal I detailed months ago come to fruition,’ Biden said, emphasising the crucial importance of the understanding in view of a potential stop to violence between the two sides.

According to the US president, this agreement would put an end to the fighting, ensure Israel’s security, and allow for a significant increase in humanitarian aid to the Palestinian population, which has been hard hit by the conflict started by Hamas over a year ago. ‘These people have been through hell,’ Biden said, recalling the plight of the thousands trapped in the Gaza Strip, where conditions have become unbearable due to the war.

But Biden’s focus was not limited to the conflict between Israel and Hamas. In his speech, he reiterated the United States’ firm support for Ukraine, following the Russian invasion that began in February 2022. ‘We cannot abandon Ukraine,’ he stressed, reiterating how Russian President Vladimir Putin has failed to achieve his strategic goals, but warning that the road to Kiev is still long and complex.

Speaking about tensions with Iran, Biden said that, thanks to US foreign policy, Tehran is now at its weakest point in decades. ‘Who would have thought we would get this far with Iran?’ the president noted, recalling how Iran, through its support of groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, has sought to destabilise the region. However, US efforts, in cooperation with Israel and other allies, have undermined the Tehran regime’s military and strategic capabilities.

Recalling the 7 October attack by Hamas, Biden highlighted Iran’s role in that action, which led to a new escalation of the conflict. He also mentioned the missile attacks directed by Tehran against Israel, all of which failed thanks to the US-led international coalition. ‘Iran’s air defences are in tatters,’ he said, highlighting the decline of its allies in the region, such as Hezbollah and Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria.

In conclusion, Biden said that the sanctions imposed by the US have brought Iran’s economy to a desperate state, and urged the future Trump administration to maintain the hard line, preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. ‘We cannot allow that, ever,’ he insisted.

According to Biden, the decline in Iranian and Russian influence is not only the result of mistakes within the two countries, but also the result of a determined and coordinated American foreign policy with allies in the region. A commitment that, he concluded, must continue without relenting.

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