UNGA: US president urges Israel, Hamas to finalise ceasefire deal
US President Joe Biden has called for swift action to finalise a Gaza ceasefire agreement while addressing the United Nations General Assembly.
“Now is the time for the parties to finalise its terms,” he said, referring to the proposal brokered by the US, Qatar, and Egypt.
The deal aims to bring hostages home, secure security for Israel and Gaza, ease suffering in Gaza, and end the war. “Bring the hostages home and secure security for Israel and Gaza free from Hamas’s grip, ease the suffering in Gaza and end this war,” Biden emphasised.
With just four months remaining in office, Biden addressed the U.N. General Assembly from the green-marbled lectern as wars in Ukraine, the Gaza Strip, and Sudan continued, likely persisting beyond his presidency, which concludes in January.
Amid rising tensions from the nearly year-long conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, which now threatens to draw in Lebanon, Biden aimed to de-escalate the situation. On Monday, Israel had struck over a thousand Hezbollah targets in Lebanon.
“Full scale war is not in anyone’s interest, even if situation has escalated, a diplomatic solution is still possible,” he told the 193-member U.N. General Assembly.
