President Joe Biden on Tuesday called upon Hamas to agree to a ceasefire, following his announcement that the U.S. brokered a tentative ceasefire the Israeli and Lebanese governments.
"Just as the Lebanese people deserve a future of security and prosperity, so do the people of Gaza," Biden said in White House Rose Garden. "They, too, deserve an end to the fighting and displacement."
Biden made the remarks after he announced the terms of the tentative deal in Lebanon, intended to halt fighting between Hezbollah and Israel.
"Far too many civilians in Gaza have suffered far too much," the president said. "And Hamas has refused, for months and months, to negotiate a good-faith ceasefire and a hostage deal."
"And so, now Hamas has a choice to make," Biden added. "Their only way out is to release the hostages, including American citizens which they hold, and in the process, bring an end to the fighting which would make possible a surge of humanitarian relief."
Biden noted that the United States will "make another push" for a ceasefire in Gaza in the coming days with countries such as Turkey, Egypt, Qatar, and Israel.
When a reporter asked whether this deal in Gaza could be done before the end of his term, Biden said, "I think so. I hope so. I'm praying."
