Biden says he's optimistic about cease-fire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas

Jerusalem, Aug 16 (AP) US President Joe Biden was optimistic Friday about the prospects for a ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, saying “we are closer than we've ever been” to an agreement.
     Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office after two days of talks wrapped up in Doha with an agreement to continue negotiations next week, Biden said “I don't want to jinx anything” but that a ceasefire was “Much, much closer than it was three days ago.”
     It would not be the first time in the 10-month-old war that Biden has expressed optimism that an agreement could be reached, only for talks between the parties to break down.
     “We may have something,” Biden said Friday. “But we're not there yet.” (AP) SCY
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(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)