Biden: I Believe an Agreement on Hostage Release is Near

U.S. President Joe Biden announced today, Monday, that he believes an agreement to secure the release of some hostages held by Hamas in Gaza is close. He added to reporters when asked at the White House about a potential agreement, "I think so." Reuters reported last week, citing a source familiar with the talks, that Qatari mediators were seeking an agreement between Israel and Hamas to exchange 50 hostages in return for a three-day ceasefire, which would help bolster emergency aid shipments for civilians in Gaza. Despite the ongoing fighting, Israel's Ambassador to the U.S., Michael Herzog, told ABC News yesterday that Israel hopes Hamas will release a significant number of hostages "in the coming days."