In a sudden turn of events, US President Joe Biden abruptly concluded a White House press conference to attend to an undisclosed issue in the Situation Room. Biden’s swift exit from the event, which focused on the economy, aligned with reports of two additional hostages being released by Hamas.

During the press conference, President Biden announced, “I have to go to the situation room. There’s an issue I need to deal with,” without providing specific details about the situation at hand.

The urgency of the President’s departure coincided with reports of two more hostages being released by Hamas, the militant group at the center of the Israel-Gaza conflict. While addressing the press, Biden had emphasized that discussions about a Gaza ceasefire would only proceed after all hostages held by Hamas were released.

“We should have those hostages released, and then we can talk,” Biden stated in response to a question regarding the possibility of a “hostages-for-ceasefire” arrangement.

Additionally, President Biden disclosed that he had recently spoken with Pope Francis about the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict and the situation in Gaza. He shared that the Pope expressed a keen interest in the United States’ actions and had been briefed on the nation’s game plan in relation to its support for Israel.

On the same day, two Israeli women were released by Hamas, following the release of Judith Tai Raanan and her daughter Natalie Shoshana Raanan, both American citizens, in recent days. However, Israel has now increased the number of confirmed hostages to 222, emphasizing the ongoing challenges and complexities surrounding this crisis.

Sources By Agencies