Biden says potential Gaza cease-fire during Ramadan hinges on release of hostages

President Biden declared Tuesday that there is a “path forward” for peace between Israel and Palestinian territories and it starts with the release of Hamas-held hostages. 

“There is a path forward, with difficulty,” Biden, 81, told late-night host Seth Meyers during a rare television interview. 

The president revealed that the Israeli government has agreed to a cease-fire during the Muslim Holy month of Ramadan – which begins on Sunday – if the terror group responsible for last October’s deadly massacre in the Jewish state frees the remaining hostages being held captive in Gaza.  

“First of all … the hostages being held must be released,” Biden said. “Ramadan’s coming up and there has been an agreement by the Israelis that they would not engage in activities during Ramadan as well, in order to give us time to get all the hostages out.”

Biden suggested that a potentially lengthy cease-fire could spark numerous Arab nations into formally recognizing Israel and start the process of a two-state solution. 

“They also have to take advantage of the opportunity to have peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians, who are being used as pawns by Hamas,” Biden said of the Israeli government. 

“I think if we get that temporary cease-fire, we’re going to be able to move in a direction where we can change the dynamic and have a two state solution – not immediately – but a process to get to a two state solution,” he added. 

The president also said that it appears to him that Israel’s bombardment of Gaza “has slowed down” and that Israel has “made a commitment to me, they’re going to seek to evacuate significant portions of Rafah before they’re going to take out the remainder of Hamas.” 

Biden’s appearance on “Late Night With Seth Meyers” came on the 10th anniversary of the NBC comedy show.

He was joined on the program and welcomed to the set by actress Amy Poehler. Biden and Poehler were Meyer’s first two guests on his inaugural program back in 2014.

At one point, Meyers asked Biden about how he would address voter concerns about his age on the campaign trail, in light of special counsel Robert Hur’s scathing report on his handling of classified documents, in which the Republican US attorney found that the president should not face criminal charges, in part because a jury may view him as an “elderly man with a poor memory.”

“Take a look at the other guy, he’s about as old as I am,” Biden responded, referring to former President Donald Trump, who is four years younger than him. 

“It’s about how old your ideas are,” he added. “Look, I mean, this is a guy who wants to take us back.”

Biden also spent time during the sit-down reminiscing about his guest spot on “Parks and Rec,” telling Poehler, who was the star of NBC TV show, that he “bragged about that for a long long time.” 

When Meyers asked the president about the so-called “Dark Brandon” memes frequently deployed by his supporters and by his own campaign on social media, Biden joked, “I resent the hell out of it,” as he whipped out a pair of dark aviator-style sunglasses, leaving them on for a few minutes.