National and Arizona Reaction to the Pause between Israel and Hamas

by
Photo from Bloomberg

Yesterday, after a series of marathon negotiations over the last month that had numerous intermissions, Israel and Hamas concluded a four-day pause in the fighting that includes the release of 50 of the 230 hostages the terrorist group, during its unprovoked attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, kidnapped including young children, one of them a three-year-old. The Israeli government has also agreed to release 150 Palestinian women and children currently imprisoned. They have also agreed to increase the amount of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Time will tell whether this is an opportunity to start to dial the tensions further down or just simply a pause in Israel’s bid to eradicate Hamas from Gaza.

Of course, the war could probably end today and innocent Palestinians in Gaza could stop suffering if Hamas released all the hostages and unconditionally surrendered all the organizers and killers who participated in the attacks on Israel last month.

It would also be helpful if the Netanyahu Government in Israel took steps to arrest and jail the West Bank settlers who are on a black-shirt-fascist mission to harass and displace innocent Palestinians.

Issuing a statement following the deal, President Joe Biden commented:

“I welcome the deal to secure the release of hostages taken by the terrorist group Hamas during its brutal assault against Israel on October 7th.

Jill and I have been keeping all those held hostages and their loved ones close to our hearts these many weeks, and I am extraordinarily gratified that some of these brave souls, who have endured weeks of captivity and an unspeakable ordeal, will be reunited with their families once this deal is fully implemented.

I thank Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani of Qatar and President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi of Egypt for their critical leadership and partnership in reaching this deal. And I appreciate the commitment that Prime Minister Netanyahu and his government have made in supporting an extended pause to ensure this deal can be fully carried out and to ensure the provision of additional humanitarian assistance to alleviate the suffering of innocent Palestinian families in Gaza. I look forward to speaking with each of these leaders and staying in close contact as we work to ensure this deal is carried through in its entirety. It is important that all aspects of this deal be fully implemented.

As President, I have no higher priority than ensuring the safety of Americans held hostage around the world. That’s why—from the earliest moments of Hamas’s brutal assault—my national security team and I have worked closely with regional partners to do everything possible to secure the release of our fellow citizens. We saw the first results of that effort in late October, when two Americans were reunited with their loved ones. Today’s deal should bring home additional American hostages, and I will not stop until they are all released.”

Today’s deal is a testament to the tireless diplomacy and determination of many dedicated individuals across the United States Government to bring Americans home.”

Later, the President posted on social media:

Vice President Kamala Harris also issued a statement offering:

“Today, thanks to the leadership of President Biden and other leaders, an agreement has been reached that will lead to the release of dozens of hostages who were taken in brutal acts of terrorism by Hamas on October 7. Doug and I pray for the well-being of all the hostages and are grateful some will soon be reunited with their loved ones.

I welcome the commitment that Israel has made to support an extended pause to ensure this deal can be fully carried out and to ensure additional humanitarian assistance reaches civilians in Gaza. The flow of aid must substantially increase and civilians must be protected. We also call on Hamas to release all the remaining hostages.

President Biden and I have no higher priority than the safety of Americans, and we welcome that today’s agreement means some Americans should be coming home. As I have told families of Americans held hostage: as they advocate for the release of their loved ones, they are not alone. We will not waver in our commitment to these Americans.”

Several Arizona Representatives and Congressional Candidates also commented on the Pause.

House Congressional District Four Representative Greg Stanton posted:

Phoenix Vice Mayor and Arizona Congressional District Three Candidate Yassamin Ansari relayed:

Arizona Congressional District One Candidate Conor O’Callaghan wrote:

“Israel, the United States, and Hamas have tentatively reached an agreement focused on freeing dozens of women and children currently held hostage in Gaza. The proposed plan includes a five-day pause in fighting, with the potential commencement of the hostage release in the coming days. This development holds the promise of the first sustained break in the ongoing conflict in Gaza, opening avenues for much-needed humanitarian relief to innocent people trapped in the region.

“I express appreciation for the President’s efforts in brokering this arrangement. Furthermore, I wholeheartedly endorse the positions he articulated in his op-ed concerning Hamas, particularly his statement that ‘If Hamas cared at all for Palestinian lives, it would release all the hostages, give up arms, and surrender the leaders and those responsible for Oct. 7.’

“To that end, it is imperative that Hamas promptly releases all hostages — American and Israeli — puts down their arms, and surrenders those responsible for the atrocities of Oct 7. From the outset, my focus has been on prioritizing the protection of innocent lives while grappling with the challenges posed by a terrorist organization determined to undermine Israel.

“The prospect of rescuing hostages and assisting those in harm’s way is a momentous opportunity for which I am grateful. Make no mistake, Hamas must be dismantled to pave the way for lasting peace and security in the region.”

3 thoughts on “National and Arizona Reaction to the Pause between Israel and Hamas”

  1. I think there is some significance in the rhetoric. Palestinians have “hostages”, Israelis have “prisoners”.
    I’m convinced you can make either side the villain by simply choosing when you start history. Start on Oct. 7, 2023 you get Homas. Start five or ten years ago you get Israel. Start in the late 1940’s you get Western Europe, and so on.

  2. I am sorry for the Israelis who lost their lives. But I think that not ONE of those heartless politicians said a friggin thing about the palestinians who have lost 13,000 people — almost HALF children—in a revengeful series of war crimes that have zero to do with eradicating hamas and everything to do with eradicating palestine and its people.

Comments are closed.