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President Joe Biden has revealed that if hostages are released, Israel has agreed to stop military operations in the Gaza Strip during Ramadan in a move to mitigate the ongoing war with Hamas.

During an appearance on NBC’s “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” Biden shared, “There’s 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.” This agreement is part of a broader effort to facilitate evacuations from Rafah and to potentially ease the path toward a ceasefire that would allow for a more peaceful observation of the Muslim holy month, beginning on the evening of March 10th, 2024.

Biden elaborated on the strategic implications of this pause, noting, “That gives us time to begin to move in directions that a lot of Arab countries are prepared to move in.” He cited the potential recognition of Israel by several states, including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, and others, as a significant outcome of the ceasefire and the ongoing diplomatic negotiations. “If we get … that temporary ceasefire, we’re going to be able to move in a direction where we can change the dynamic and not have a two-state solution immediately but a process to get to a two-state solution,” Biden explained, emphasizing the dual goals of ensuring Israel’s security and supporting Palestinian independence.

With the death toll rising, President Biden also expressed concern over the potential erosion of international support for Israel, stating, “Israel has had the overwhelming support of the vast majority of nations. If it keeps this up … they’re going to lose support from around the world. And that is not in Israel’s interest.”