Biden: A Ceasefire Agreement in Gaza Could Prevent an Iranian Attack on Israel

U.S. President Joe Biden announced that reaching a ceasefire in Gaza could deter Iran from launching an attack on Israel in response to the assassination of Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. Biden told reporters in New Orleans, when asked if a truce between Israel and Hamas could prevent an Iranian attack: "That's what I expect," emphasizing that he "will not give up" as negotiations to achieve this goal "intensify." In the same context, White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre stated that Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) should engage in ceasefire talks in Gaza this week, after Hamas raised doubts about its participation. Jean-Pierre added to reporters aboard Air Force One while President Biden was traveling to New Orleans: "We believe that negotiators should sit down at the negotiation table. We see that reaching a ceasefire agreement is the best way to calm the tensions we are witnessing."