The US president's comments came after a US Air Force soldier died after setting himself on fire outside the Israeli embassy.
US President Joe Biden expressed his belief that a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas could begin next Monday in a spontaneous statement he made during a visit to New York. The Guardian reported.
Responding to reporters who asked him when he expected a ceasefire could begin, Biden said: “My national security adviser tells me we're close. We're close. We're not done yet. My hope is that by next Monday we can “We will have a ceasefire.”
Biden made the comments after recording an appearance on NBC “Late Night with Seth Meyers”.
Over the weekend, Israel's war cabinet approved a deal to halt fighting for several weeks in exchange for the release of hostages in Gaza.
Negotiations are ongoing between Israel and Hamas, with Egypt, Qatar, the United States and France acting as intermediaries.
The deal could also involve the release of several hundred Palestinian detainees held by Israel, according to AFP.
Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani of Qatar, whose country hosts Hamas leaders and helped negotiate a week-long truce in November, is due to visit Paris this week, according to the French presidency.
A week-long pause would allow hundreds of trucks to deliver aid to Gaza, where nearly 30,000 people have died, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, while disease and hunger have gripped much of the population.
The offensive against Gaza follows the October 7 Hamas attacks in Israel, which killed 1,200 people and held more than 200 hostages. At least 100 hostages were released in exchange for a weeklong pause, but Israeli officials believe 130 hostages remain in Gaza.
Biden's comments on the ceasefire came hours after an active-duty member of the US Air Force died after setting himself on fire outside the Israeli embassy in Washington to protest the genocide in Gaza.
Activists urge Democrats to vote “no compromise” in Michigan primary, instead of supporting Biden, to pressure the US president to change course and call for a permanent ceasefire, as the situation becomes politically complicated.
