US President Joe Biden stated in his final foreign policy address that a Gaza deal is “on the brink.” The outgoing US president announced that the agreement would include a hostage release and a significant increase in aid to Palestinians.
Biden’s remarks come as US and Arab mediators made substantial progress overnight in efforts to broker a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war and secure the release of numerous hostages held in Gaza. However, a deal has not yet been finalized.
Officials noted that further ceasefire talks will take place in Doha on Tuesday to finalize the remaining details, including the release of up to 33 hostages.
This address is one of Biden’s final speeches before leaving office next week, with his farewell address scheduled for Wednesday.
Biden also said in his speech that Iran has been reduced to its weakest point in decades, citing Tehran’s dire economy, knocked-out air defenses, and loss of Syria as an ally.
“Iran’s air defenses are in shambles. Their main proxy, Hezbollah, is badly wounded, and as we tested Iran’s willingness to revive the nuclear deal, we kept the pressure with sanctions. Now Iran’s economy is in desperate straits,” Biden said.
“You want more evidence we seriously weakened Iran and Russia? Let’s take a look at Syria. President Assad was both countries’ closest ally in the Middle East. Neither could keep him in power. Quite frankly, neither really tried very hard,” Biden added.
President-elect Donald Trump is due to return to the White House next week.