WASHINGTON – At the 537th and final White House press briefing of President Joe Biden’s administration, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre updated the press on reports of a ceasefire deal reached between Israel and Hamas.
With just five days remaining before President Biden leaves office, the agreement offered a glimmer of hope for an end to bloodshed in the region after 15 months of war.
“This deal will halt the fighting in Gaza, serve much-needed humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians who have been living in dire conditions, and it will reunite the hostages, including Americans, with their families after more than 15 months in captivity,” Jean-Pierre told reporters during the press briefing.
Jean-Pierre also reiterated Biden’s crucial role in diplomatic efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement and highlighted the vital role of the United States in negotiations.
When probed by reporters on whether or not President-elect Trump should be credited, Jean-Pierre declined to comment and stated, “The president got it done.”
On Wednesday afternoon, Biden delivered remarks on the ceasefire agreement, which his administration helped to broker.
Biden outlined the three phases of the deal, with the first phase, which will last for six weeks, including a complete ceasefire and the release of hostages held by Hamas. The second phase will include the release of all remaining hostages, a permanent ceasefire and the departure of Israeli forces from Gaza.
In his speech, President Biden emphasized that this is the “exact framework” of the deal that he proposed in May 2024, which received unanimous approval from the UN Security Council.
Both President Biden and Press Secretary Jean-Pierre noted that the Biden administration “coordinated closely” with incoming President-elect Donald Trump’s administration officials to facilitate a peaceful transfer of power.
A camera crew adjusts a tripod while White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre briefs reporters (Joshua Sukoff/Medill News Service)
At a Wednesday afternoon press briefing at the State Department, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State Matthew Miller addressed the Israel-Hamas ceasefire a few hours after the agreement was announced.
“That provides Israelis and Palestinians the incentives and insurances they need to achieve their long-sought national aspirations.”
In his closing remarks in one of his final speeches as president, Biden reiterated his satisfaction with the agreement. “As I prepare to leave office our friends are strong, our enemies are weak and there’s a genuine opportunity for a new future.”
During the final press conference of the Biden administration – Karine Jean-Pierre’s 306th – an emotional Jean-Pierre described her time as Press Secretary as the ‘honor of a lifetime.’
Additional reporting by Sofia Sorochinskaia.
