President Joe Biden expressed his support for a temporary halt in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, responding to a heckler’s cease-fire demand during a recent campaign event.
As reported by The Hill, the incident occurred while Biden was addressing a gathering of 200 people at a fundraiser. A person in the audience identified as Rabbi Jessica Rosenberg called on the president to demand an immediate cease-fire.
Biden replied, "I think we need a pause. A pause means give time to get the prisoners out."
He further mentioned his previous efforts in convincing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to support cease-fire initiatives.
The president had earlier revealed that American citizens were among those leaving Gaza via the Rafah border crossing with Egypt. The White House had previously indicated its willingness to consider a "humanitarian pause" for aid to enter Gaza but had dismissed calls for a cease-fire, stating it would only aid Hamas.
Biden, who has maintained his backing for Israel following the Hamas attacks in early October, has recently been more inclined towards assisting Palestinian civilians and providing humanitarian aid in Gaza.
Image via Shutterstock
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