President Joe Biden aides are once again expressing hope that Israel and Hamas could be close to reaching a deal for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages held by the terrorist group.

Joe Biden said Thursday there was "real progress" in talks for a ceasefire and hostage deal between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, an agreement the US president is pushing for in his last days in office.

Mr Blinken said he hopes to bring the deal to the finish line in the next two weeks. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Hamas has named 34 hostages, some of them believed to have died in captivity, who it says it would return to Israel in the first phase of an evolving if still elusive ceasefire in Gaza. The Palestinian militant group circulated the list to media outlets after Israel sent envoys to Qatar for fresh talks for a pause in the devastating war.

Now he tells us. In an interview published Saturday in the New York Times, Secretary of State Antony Blinken named the key impediment to a Gaza hostage deal: “Whenever there has been public daylight between the United States and Israel,

Israel’s leader ensured a better legacy for the U.S. president by ignoring his advice.

At a White House event on January 5, President Biden addressed Trump’s threat to democracy, while also defending his experience against questions about his age, snapping at reporters by highlighting his extensive interactions with world leaders.

My being the oldest president, I know more world leaders than any one of you ever met in your whole goddamn life,’ president tells reporters

Biden left on a mission to provide comfort to the victims of mass murder in New Orleans and scored points by staying focused and reminding everyone what compassion from a leader intent on helping others can do for us all.

The Washington Examiner prides itself on its in-depth, enterprise, and investigative reporting. Here is a summary of our weekly series in 2024.

Washington optimistic on chances of closing agreement to release Israelis held by Hamas before end of Biden's term; Netanyahu huddles with security chiefs to discuss negotiations The post CIA chief says hostage talks ‘quite serious’;