Biden says he is 'deeply engaged' in efforts to extend Gaza truce

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - US President Joe Biden said Monday he is "deeply engaged" in efforts to extend an ongoing humanitarian pause that has halted widespread Israeli bombardment of the besieged Gaza in exchange for the release of dozens of hostages.

"I have remained deeply engaged over the last few days to ensure that this deal—brokered and sustained through extensive U.S. mediation and diplomacy—can continue to deliver results," Biden said in a statement.

Over 50 hostages held by Hamas have been released amid the ongoing truce -- initially agreed upon for four days, but extended for an additional two just before expiring on Monday. It will now run through at least Wednesday.

Israel has separately agreed to release three Palestinian detainees for every hostage set free by Hamas, and has allowed additional humanitarian assistance to reach Gaza where supplies of daily commodities are increasingly scarce amid mass displacement of the coastal enclave's civilian population.

Biden said the US "has led the humanitarian response into Gaza—building on years of work as the largest funder of humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian people."

"We are taking full advantage of the pause in fighting to increase the amount of humanitarian aid moving into Gaza, and we will continue our efforts to build a future of peace and dignity for the Palestinian people," he said.

He further thanked Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad al-Thani, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu "for their commitment to this process and in reaching the agreement for an extension over the next 48 hours."

Israel launched a massive military campaign in the Gaza Strip following a shocking cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7 in which over 1,200 people were killed, according to official Israeli figures.

Israel's aerial bombardment and ground invasion have led to mass devastation in the densely populated coastal enclave. The official Palestinian death toll in Gaza is now over 15,000, including 6,150 children and 4,000 women, according to Gaza-based officials.