President Joe Biden (00:00):
Still for what I laid out in detail this past May, which was embraced by countries around the world and endorsed overwhelmingly by the UN Security Council. The deal is structured in three phases. Phase one will last six weeks. It includes a full and complete ceasefire. Withdrawal of Israeli forces from all the populated areas of Gaza and the release of a number of hostages held by Hamas, including women and elderly and the wounded. And I'm proud to say Americans will be part of that hostage release in phase one as well. And the vice president and I cannot wait to welcome them home. In exchange, Israel will release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. And during phase one, the Palestinians can also return to their neighborhoods in all the areas of Gaza. And the surge of humanitarian assistance in the Gaza will begin and the innocent people can have a greater access to these vital supplies.
(01:07)
During the next six weeks, Israel will negotiate the necessary arrangements to get phase two, which is a permanent end of the war. Let me say it again, a permanent end of the war. There are a number of details to negotiate to move from phase one to phase two. But the plan says if negotiations take longer than six weeks, the ceasefire will continue as long as the negotiations continue. I've spoken to the mayor of Kuwait and the president of Egypt, and we have pledged to make sure the negotiations will keep moving forward for as long as it takes. Then when phase two begins, there will be an exchange for release of the remaining living hostages, including male soldiers. And all remaining Israeli forces will be withdrawn from Gaza. And the temporary ceasefire will become permanent. And finally, phase three. Any final remains of hostages who have been killed will be returned to their families. And a major reconstruction plan for Gaza will begin.
(02:20)
This is the ceasefire agreement I introduced last spring. Today, Hamas and Israel have agreed to that ceasefire agreement and the hold ending the war. Those of you who have followed the negotiations can attest the road to this deal has not been easy. I've worked in foreign policy for decades. This is one of the toughest negotiations I've ever experienced. And we reached this point because of the pressure that Israel built on Hamas backed by the United States. Hamas's longtime leader, Sinwar, was killed. Hamas's strongest supporter, Iran, launched attacks in Israel and those attacks failed after my administration organized the Coalition of Nations to stop them.
(03:08)
And after I ordered the US ships and planes to come to Israel's defense, we also shaped Israel's strong and calibrated response, destroying Iran's air defenses but avoiding an escalatory cycle of an all-out war. The United States also organized a coalition of 20 countries to stand up to attacks by the Houthis, including their missile attacks in Israel. Then Hezbollah, another of Hamas's strongest backers, was significantly weakened on the battlefield and its leadership was destroyed. With our support, Israel negotiated a ceasefire with them. And after that, Lebanon finally elected a new president who's not beholding the Hezbollah. And he began a new chapter for the Lebanese people.
(04:00)
All told these developments in the region, which the United States helped to shape, changed the equation. And so now the terror network that once protected and sustained Hamas is far weaker. Iran is weaker. Iran is weaker than has been in decades. Hezbollah is badly degraded. And after more than 15 months of war, Hamas's senior leaders are dead. Thousands of Hamas fighters are dead. And the military formations have been destroyed. With nowhere to turn, Hamas finally agreed to releasing hostages. There was no other way for this war to end than with a hostage deal. And I'm deeply satisfied this day has finally come for the sake of the people of Israel and the families waiting in agony. And for the sake of the innocent people in Gaza who suffered unimaginable devastation because of the war.
(05:01)
The Palestinian people have gone through hell. Too many innocent people have died. Too many communities have been destroyed. And this deal, the people of Gaza can finally recover and rebuild. They can look to a future without Hamas in power. The Bible says, "Blessed are the peacemakers." Many peacemakers helped make this deal happen, including an extraordinary team of American diplomats who have worked nonstop for months to get this done. Secretary Blinken led the effort. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Will Burns, Jon Finer, Brett McGurk, Amos Hochstein, and the vice president worked relentlessly as we worked to deliver this deal.
(05:52)
I'd also note this deal was developed and negotiated under my administration, but its terms will be implemented for the most part by the next administration. In these past few days, we've been speaking as one team. This has been time of real turmoil in the Middle East. But as I prepare to leave office, our friends are strong, our enemies are weak, and there's genuine opportunities for a new future. In Lebanon, there's an opportunity for a future free from the grip of Hezbollah. In Syria, a future free from the tyranny of Assad. And for the Palestinian people, an incredible pathway to a state of their own. And for the region, a future of normalization, integration of Israel and all its Arab neighbors, including Saudi Arabia.
(06:47)
At the G20 in Delhi in September '23, I rallied key countries behind a vision of an economic corridor from India across the Middle East to Europe. That vision can now become a reality. There are risk as well, including ISIS and Iran, even in a badly weakened state. But we're handing off to the next team a real opportunity for a better future for the Middle East. I hope they will take it. Let me close to this. My friend, for years in the United States Senate, former Senator George Mitchell, who did so much to forge peace in Northern Ireland once said about diplomacy, said, "It is 700 days of failure and one day of success." 700 days of failure and one day of success. Well, we've had many difficult days since the Hamas began its terrible war. We've encountered roadblocks and setbacks. We've not given up. And now after more than 400 days of struggle, a day of success has arrived. God bless all the hostages and their families. May God protect the troops of all those who work for peace.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
Mr. president, how do you see the future of Gaza now, as you are saying, the implementation of the deal will be in the hands of the next administration and basically they'll shape the future of Gaza. So how do you see this future? And also, how much credit do you give to the Trump team for this deal? Trump is already taking credit for it.
President Joe Biden (08:20):
Well, this is the exact framework of the deal I proposed back in May. Exact. And we got the world to endorse it. Secondly, it's America's support for Israel that helped them badly weaken Hamas and its hackers and create the conditions for this deal. And thirdly, I knew this deal would have to be implemented by the next team. So I told my team to coordinate closely with the incoming team to make sure we're all speaking with the same voice because that's what American presidents do.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
Mr. President, do you know how many Americans will be released when the hostages are being released?
President Joe Biden (09:11):
All the exact detail of how many people are being held, how many bodies will be returned, will all be forthcoming. All of it, all of it. Thank you.
Speaker 4 (09:19):
Mr. President, what's your total confidence that this deal will hold?
President Joe Biden (09:24):
I'm confident. Thank you.
Speaker 5 (09:26):
[inaudible 00:09:27] credit for this Mr. President, you or Trump?
President Joe Biden (09:31):
Is that a joke?
Speaker 5 (09:32):
No.
President Joe Biden (09:33):
Oh. Thank you.