Ceasefire paves way for hostage deal

Lebanon ceasefire paves way for Hamas hostage deal, says Hochstein

“I don’t think there is a single Jewish person who doesn’t have, within one or two degrees of separation, knowledge of a hostage or a member of a hostage’s family.”declared the American presidential envoy.

ANDRE BERNARD

Hezbollah’s ceasefire agreement in Lebanon could pave the way for a deal to free hostages held by Hamas, Amos Hochstein, senior adviser to US President Joe Biden, said during a briefing Wednesday for the American Jewish community.

“Lebanese deal opens opportunity for hostage deal,” he said. “They wake up this morning at 4 a.m. to Hezbollah, which actively supported Hamas on the northern front, making a deal and ending this conflict. »

“Israel is no longer assailed by two fronts. He is waging a war on one front,” he declared. “There is no longer any cavalry coming from the north for Hamas. Iran supported the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon, which means it knows that there has been a disassociation between the Lebanese and Gaza fronts. »

In his call with Shelley Greenspan, the White House Jewish liaison, Hochstein, one of the administration’s top negotiators on Middle East issues, said Hamas, which welcomed the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon, had been the main obstacle to an agreement.

“Everyone always blames the Israelis for everything,” he said. “But the president was very clear in his speech yesterday: Hamas has not come to the negotiating table in good faith for months. »

In announcing the ceasefire on Tuesday, Biden said his administration would make another effort “in the coming days” to obtain a ceasefire agreement for the hostages with Hamas.

Hochstein, who is Jewish and was born in Jerusalem, described the “difficult year” for Israelis and Jews around the world and said Biden was focused on reaching a hostage deal before leaving office on January 20.

“I don’t think there is a single Jewish person who doesn’t have, within one or two degrees of separation, knowledge of a hostage or a member of a hostage’s family,” he declared.

“He wants to go all the way to see, particularly on the issue of the hostages – all he wants to do until the end is to see, even if we can repatriate some of these hostages,” he said. “It will be worth all the effort.” »

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President Joe Biden walks with Amos Hochstein (L), senior advisor for energy security, and Bruce Reed, deputy chief of staff, Jan. 23, 2023, in the Center Hall of the White House. Credit: Cameron Smith/White House.