We need a pause in Israel-Hamas war to free hostages: Biden

US President Joe Biden said Israel and Palestinian terrorist group Hamas ought to “pause” fighting to allow time to free over 240 hostages held in the Gaza Strip.

Biden, however, stopped short of supporting a full ceasefire.

The US president has been facing criticism from progressive groups, as well as Muslim and Arab Americans, over his support for Israel’s campaign against Hamas which has resulted in the deaths of thousands of civilians in Gaza.

At a Minneapolis political fundraiser, Biden was interrupted by a protester who said: “I need you to call for a ceasefire right now.”

To this, Biden responded: “I think we need a pause.”

“A pause means give time to get the prisoners out,” the US President added.

Meanwhile, Biden took credit for getting Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to allow time to “get the prisoners out” before his country launched a ground invasion, and for persuading Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to let foreigners and wounded Palestinians leave Gaza through Rafah crossing.

On Wednesday, Egypt opened the Rafah crossing with Gaza, enabling an initial group of people — including some Americans — to flee the fighting.

Earlier, Biden faced demonstrations in Minnesota over his support for Israel’s military offensive in response to the October 7 Hamas onslaught. The protesters at the fundraiser identified themselves as a Jewish rabbi named Jessica Rosenberg.

“I understand the emotion,” Biden said. “This is incredibly complicated for the Israelis. It’s incredibly complicated for the Muslim world as well,” he added.

The US President said he has supported a two-state solution that would result in the creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel. But he also defended Israel’s right to go after Hamas, which is designated a terrorist group by the US and European Union, after militants killed roughly 1,400 Israelis, mostly civilians, and took around 240 people hostage.

“The fact is the matter is that Hamas is a terrorist organization. A flat-out terrorist organization,” the president said.

At an event earlier Wednesday, Biden said he was encouraged that the pace of aid flowing into Gaza had increased. He also called on Israel to conduct military operations “in a manner that is consistent with international humanitarian law, that prioritizes protection of citizens.”

With inputs from Bloomberg