Biden Expresses "Moderate Optimism" About Potential Hamas Hostage Release

U.S. President Joe Biden expressed "moderate optimism" regarding the possibility of an agreement between Israel and Hamas for the release of some hostages held by the Palestinian group in Gaza. He emphasized that he has requested the Israeli state to be "extremely cautious" in its military operation at the Shifa hospital in the region. During a press conference at the conclusion of a four-hour summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Woodside, California, Biden responded to a question about the prospects for a hostage release agreement, stating, "I don't want to get ahead of things because I don't know what has happened in the last four hours, but we have had great cooperation on the part of the Qataris." Biden mentioned the "ceasefire approved by the Israelis," before cutting himself off, adding, "I will stop. But I am moderately optimistic."