Biden says Hamas hostage deal is 'looking good'

Biden also said the United States has "been working on this intensively for weeks" and that he has spoken with leaders from Israel and Qatar.

By Madeleine Hubbard

Published: November 21, 2023 11:57am

President Joe Biden on Tuesday said efforts to free the hostages who have been held captive by Hamas for more than six weeks are "looking good," amid reports that Israel and Hamas have reached a tentative deal to release some of the hostages.

"We are now very close, very close. We could bring some of these hostages home very soon, but I don’t want to get into the details of things, because nothing is done until it’s done. And if we have more to say, we will. But things are looking good at the moment," Biden said at the start of a White House meeting on countering fentanyl.

Biden also said the United States has "been working on this intensively for weeks" and that he has spoken with leaders from Israel and Qatar, the latter of which is known for hosting terrorists and other radical actors.

About 240 hostages have been held captive since Oct. 7, when Hamas terrorists invaded Israel and killed around 1,200 people, including more than 30 U.S. citizens.

Also on Tuesday, the Israeli government said it is discussing a potential hostage deal, while Hamas Political Bureau head Ismail Haniyeh said, "We are close to reaching a truce agreement."

According to multiple reports, the deal would involve the freeing of at least 50 hostages in exchange for a three to five-day ceasefire.

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