Working Around the Clock for a Hostage and Ceasefire Deal: President Biden’s and My Efforts in Gaza

With respect to the war in Gaza,
President Biden and I are working around the clock
because now is the time to get a hostage deal
and a ceasefire deal done.
And let me be clear. And let me be clear,
I will always stand up for Israel’s right to defend itself.
And I will all always ensure Israel has the ability to defend itself.
Because the people of Israel must never again face the horror
that a terrorist organisation called Hamas caused on October 7,
including unspeakable sexual violence
and the massacre of young people at a music festival.
At the same time,
what has happened in Gaza over the past 10 months is devastating.
So many innocent lives lost.
Desperate, hungry people fleeing for safety over and over again.
The scale of suffering is heartbreaking.
President Biden and I are working to end this war
such that Israel is secure,
the hostages are released,
the suffering in Gaza ends,
and the Palestinian people can realise their right to dignity, security,
freedom and self determination.