In the Oval Office on Friday, President Joe Biden said “we are closer than we’ve ever been” to a cease-fire and hostage deal in the Israel–Hamas war—”but we’re not there yet.”
The president made his comments as mediators working to end the Israel–Hamas War wrapped up their two-day peace talks. They plan to reconvene in Cairo next week. Biden told reporters a deal was much closer than it was just three days ago.