President Joe Biden does not have confidence in Hamas to “do anything right” but believes the terrorist group is responsive to pressure.
Biden made the remark Friday following Hamas’s release of 24 hostages as part of the first phase of an ongoing hostage release operation between Israel and the Gaza-based terrorist organization.
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“I don’t trust Hamas to do anything right. I only trust Hamas to respond to pressure,” Biden said.
The release of the hostages is part of a temporary ceasefire deal between Israel and the terrorist organization, and while Biden said it was “only a start,” he asserted that “so far, it’s gone well.”
The president noted that the ceasefire is expected to continue for four days. Under the terms of the deal, Hamas is expected to release 50 hostages in waves from captivity in Gaza in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners who are being held in Israeli jails.
About three dozen of those prisoners, all women and minors, were released as part of the first wave on Friday.
“Today’s releases are the start of a process,” Biden said. “Over the next few days, we expect that dozens of hostages will be returned to their families. We also remember all those who are still being held and renew our commitment to work for their release as well.”
Biden said he did not know what condition the 24 hostages — 13 Israelis, 10 Thai nationals, and one Filipino national — were in. The Israel Defense Forces said Israeli military personnel were accompanying the hostages to hospitals.
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“This is the beginning of a long journey of healing for them,” Biden said. “The teddy bears waiting to greet those children at the hospital are a stark reminder of the trauma these children have been through, and at such a very young age. Jill and I … are keeping them all in our prayers today.”
The president also expressed his gratitude for the initial releases, noting they coincided with the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
