Administration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr., 2024
October 17, 2024
The President. It's a good day for the world. We got—I called Bibi Netanyahu to congratulate him on getting Sinwar. He has a lot of blood on his hands—American blood, Israeli blood, and others.
And I told him that we were really pleased with his actions and, further, that now is the time to move on—move on, move towards a cease-fire in Gaza, make sure that we move in a direction that we're going to be in a position to make things better for the whole world.
It's time for this war to end and bring these hostages home. And so that's what we're ready to do. That's what we're going to be—and I'm sending Tony Blinken to Israel—I guess he's going in 5 days—4 days—4 or 5 days. Anyway, he's going. And I talked with Bibi about that. We're going to work out what is the day after now, what—how do we secure Gaza and move on.
So thank you very much.
Q. Did he commit to an accelerated timeline?
Israel-Gaza Conflict
Q. Do you feel more hopeful, sir, about a cease-fire?
The President. I do. I do feel more hopeful.
Q. Do you have a sense of when he will end the war, sir?
The President. Hopefully, he—very soon.
NOTE: The President spoke at 10:13 p.m. on the tarmac at the Berlin Brandenberg Willy Brandt Airport after exiting Air Force One. In his remarks, he referred to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel; Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who was killed in an Israeli military operation in Gaza, Palestinian Territories, on October 17; and Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken.
Categories: Interviews With the News Media : Exchanges with reporters, Schönefeld, Germany. Locations: Schönefeld, Germany.
Names: Blinken, Antony J.; Netanyahu, Benjamin; Sinwar, Yahya.
Subjects: Deaths, Yahya Sinwar; Gaza, conflict with Israel; Gaza, hostages held by Hamas; Germany, President Biden's visit; Hamas political-paramilitary organization; Israel, military operations in Gaza; Israel, Prime Minister; News media, Presidential interviews; Secretary of State.
DCPD Number: DCPD202400924.