WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement on President Biden’s announcement of a framework agreement between Israel and Hamas on the return of hostages and a ceasefire.
“President Biden, his team, and our partners have worked tirelessly on a deal to release the hostages, including the eight Americans. I welcome the announcement that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the framework the President presented six weeks ago. However, the complex issues of implementation remain. These details must be resolved to secure the return of hostages, establish a ceasefire that brings desperately needed assistance to innocent Palestinians, and plan the next steps for a Gaza free of Hamas and its Iranian backers. I call on the parties and the mediators to work swiftly on the implementation steps to finalize this agreement.”
###