Biden says no ceasefire until Hamas releases all hostages

President Joe Biden shot down the idea of supporting a ceasefire in Israel until Hamas releases the remainder of its hostages.

Hamas took roughly 200 people hostage during its Oct. 7 terrorist attacks on Israeli border towns. The Biden administration believes the vast majority of the Americans still unaccounted for in Israel are among that group.

BIDEN VACATIONS WHILE PRESSURE TO FREE HOSTAGES MOUNTS

Biden, speaking at the White House on Monday, was asked if he supported calls for a ceasefire in order to enter advanced hostage negotiations with Hamas.

“We should have those hostages released, and then we can talk,” the president responded.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby danced around the question when pressed on a possible ceasefire deal during Monday’s White House press briefing.

“Here’s an idea, and it’s just an idea I’ll throw out there. They can release them all now. Just let them go now because these people didn’t do anything wrong,” he told reporters. “They’re just innocent civilians being caught up in this conflict. Let them go now. Now, I recognize that’s not going to happen, which is why we’re going to keep working with our partners in the region to do what we can to get them released.”

Some progressive Democrats in Congress have been pushing for a ceasefire. These are Biden’s first comments on the possibility.

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Hamas released two American hostages, Judith Raanan and her daughter Natalie, on Friday for “humanitarian” reasons. The Associated Press reported on Monday that two additional Israeli hostages were released.

You can watch Monday’s briefing in full below.