bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sponsorType

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Bloomberg

US President Joe Biden said on Wednesday that Israel and Hamas militants ought to “pause” fighting in order to allow time to free hostages held in the Gaza Strip, but stopped short of supporting a full ceasefire.
Biden made the comments while replying to a protester during a political fundraiser in Minneapolis. The president had travelled to Minnesota to garner support for his economic policies and raise money for his re-election.
Progressive groups, as well as Muslim and Arab Americans, have criticised Biden over his support for Israel’s campaign against Hamas that has resulted in thousands of civilian deaths in Gaza.
The protester interrupted Biden, saying “I need you to call for a ceasefire right now”.

The president said: “I think we need a pause,” adding: “A pause means give time to get the prisoners out”.
Biden took credit for getting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to allow time to “get the prisoners out” before launching a ground invasion, and for persuading Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to let foreigners and wounded Palestinians leave Gaza through his country.
Gaza now a ‘graveyard’ for thousands of children, UN says
The White House has previously called for “humanitarian pauses” to allow aid to be delivered into Gaza or to carry out evacuations, but has so far refused to discuss a ceasefire, believing it would exclusively play into the hands of Hamas.
Egypt earlier Wednesday opened its Rafah crossing with Gaza, allowing an initial group of people - including some Americans - to flee the fighting.
The president faced demonstrations earlier Wednesday in Minnesota over his support for Israel’s military offensive in response to the October 7 Hamas massacre. The protester at the fundraiser identified themselves as a rabbi named Jessica Rosenberg.
“I understand the emotion,” Biden said. “This is incredibly complicated for the Israelis. It’s incredibly complicated for the Muslim world as well.”
At the Minneapolis fundraiser, Biden said he has supported a two-state solution that would result in the creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel.

But he also defended Israel’s right to go after Hamas, which has been designated a terrorist group by the US and the European Union, after militants killed roughly 1,400 Israelis, mostly civilians, and took around 240 people hostage.
“The fact is the matter is that Hamas is a terrorist organisation. A flat-out terrorist organisation,” the president added.
At an event earlier Wednesday, Biden said he was encouraged that the pace of aid flowing into Gaza had increased. He also called on Israel to conduct military operations “in a manner that is consistent with international humanitarian law, that prioritises protection of citizens”.
The Gaza health ministry says at least 8,796 Palestinians in the narrow coastal enclave, including 3,648 children, have been killed by Israeli strikes since October 7. The Hamas-run government said at least 195 Palestinians died in Israel’s attacks on the Jabalia refugee camp on Wednesday.
Additional reporting by Reuters and Agence France-Presse


Israeli strikes on Gaza kill at least 30, including children at tent camp, say hospitals

US approves US$16 billion arms sale to Israel, Saudi Arabia as Middle East tensions mount

Spain arrests Chinese hair salon owner for funding Hamas via crypto

Israel offers ‘limited’ Rafah reopening on Sunday after nearly 2-year Gaza border shutdown

Israel-Gaza war

Israel-Gaza war: Joe Biden urges ‘pause’ in fighting for hostage release

Israeli armoured personnel carriers and tanks move towards the Gaza Strip border in southern Israel. Photo: AP

Israeli armoured vehicles at a location given as Gaza. Photo: Israel Defence Forces via Reuters

An Israeli Apache helicopter fires a missile towards the Gaza Strip. Photo: AP

Israel’s strikes on Gaza refugee camp could be war crimes, UN says

A man reacts as Palestinians search for casualties on Wednesday after Israeli strikes on the Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip. Photo: Reuters

Gaza now a ‘graveyard’ for thousands of children, UN says

A girl stands amid rubble in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. Photo: AFP

A Palestinian man carries the body of his child who was killed in Israeli strikes. Photo: Reuters

Hamas was holding 33 children hostage. Pictured are two of them, Emma and Yuli Cunio. Photo: AFP

Israel-Gaza mediation role will require China to work with other powers, Xiangshan forum hears

Palestinians leave their homes after an Israeli bombardment of Gaza City. Photo: AP

The Beijing Xiangshan Forum’s opening ceremony at the Beijing International Convention Centre on October 30. Photo: Xinhua

Bolivia severs diplomatic ties with Israel, others recall envoys over Gaza

Palestinians mourn relatives killed in Israeli bombardments of the Gaza Strip. Photo: AP

An Israeli tank during ground operations at a location given as Gaza. Photo: Israel Defence Forces via Reuters

Has Israel invaded Gaza? The military has been vague, even if its objectives are clear

An Israeli tank near the border with Gaza Strip, in Israel on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters 

Israeli ground troops conduct operations in the Gaza Strip on Monday. Photo: Israeli Defence Forces via Xinhua 

News

World

Middle East

US President Joe Biden stops short of calling for a full ceasefire in Gaza
Israel has vowed to annihilate Hamas following the October 7 massacre


US president, who has come under fire from Muslims and progressives over the Israel-Gaza war, stops short of calling for full ceasefire.


Israel

Joe Biden

War and conflict

Israel-Gaza war: Joe Biden urges ‘pause’ in fighting for hostage release

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}US President Joe Biden stops short of calling for a full ceasefire in Gaza Israel has vowed to annihilate Hamas following the October 7 massacre

US President Joe Biden stops short of calling for a full ceasefire in Gaza

Israel has vowed to annihilate Hamas following the October 7 massacre