Biden holds an ice cream cone as he says ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war could come by MONDAY amid mounting pressure from pro-Palestine progressive Democrats
'My national security adviser tells me that we´re close. We´re close. We´re not done yet,' Biden said of the deal
By Stephen M. Lepore
Daily Mail
Feb 26, 2024
President Joe Biden said he hopes a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas can take effect by early next week, all while holding an ice cream cone during a taping of Seth Meyers' comedy show.
Biden commented in New York after taping an appearance on Meyers' NBC show 'Late Night,' which was staked out by anti-Israel protesters, continuing to show the mounting pressure on the president from the left.
Asked when he thought a cease-fire could begin, Biden said: 'Well I hope by the beginning of the weekend. The end of the weekend. My national security adviser tells me that we´re close. We´re close. We´re not done yet. My hope is by next Monday we´ll have a ceasefire.'
As part of the taping, Biden and Meyers went next door to the Van Leeuwen ice cream parlor. He chose a mint chocolate chip cone.
During the jaunt the president was asked when a ceasefire in Gaza could begin.
Negotiations are underway for a weekslong cease-fire between Israel and Hamas to allow for the release of hostages being held in Gaza by the militant group in return for Israel releasing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
The proposed six-week pause in fighting would also include allowing hundreds of trucks to deliver desperately needed aid into Gaza every day.
Negotiators face an unofficial deadline of the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan around March 10, a period that often sees heightened Israeli-Palestinian tensions.
Protesters backing a ceasefire in Gaza stormed the lobby of New York City's Rockefeller Center to send a message to Biden, who was taking part in a taping of Meyers' show upstairs.
The group signaled they were made up of Jewish-Americans, sporting T-shirts that read 'Not In Our Name,' and large signs that said, 'Jews to Biden: End Israel's Siege of Gaza.'
They chanted 'end the siege of Gaza now' and 'Biden, Biden you can't hide ...'
In one video from the scene, a New York City Police Department officer uses a megaphone to tell the crowd they will be arrested for trespassing if they don't disperse.
Several protesters were then seen getting arrested by the NYPD.
As part of the taping, Biden and Meyers went next door to the Van Leeuwen ice cream parlor. He chose a mint chocolate chip cone
A Palestinian man carries a baby past buildings destroyed during Israeli strikes in Beit Lahia in northern Gaza
Pro-Palestinian protesters take over NBC's Rockefeller Center lobby where US President Joe Biden will appear for 'Late Night with Seth Meyers' in New York
Protesters took over the lobby of 30 Rock on Monday as President Joe Biden was taping an episode of Late Night with Seth Meyers upstairs
Pro-Palestinian protesters stormed into the lobby of New York's Rockefeller Center to send a message to President Joe Biden, who was taking part in a tape of Late Night With Seth Meyers upstairs
The protesters were calling for a ceasefire to save the civilian population of Gaza from the Israeli military, which has been trying to root out Hamas after the October 7 terror attack
Biden was a surprise guest for Meyers' 10th anniversary episode of the late night show.
It was the last example of far left, anti-Israel protesters attempting to influence Biden.
He already faces a tough challenge ahead in the state of Michigan, which has the highest percentage and number of Arab Americans in the United States with more than 211,000 or 2.1 percent.
The president's support in the state has wavered among progressives and young people over his support for Israel as it conducts its war in Gaza following the Hamas terror attack on October 7.
Michigan voters head the the polls on Tuesday to cast ballots in both the Republican and Democratic presidential primaries.
But some activists are encouraging Democrats to vote 'uncommitted' rather than for Biden over his support for funding for Israel.
The 'Listen to Michigan' movement which has been urging 'uncommitted' votes from Michigan Democrats over Biden's policy in Gaza said it can demonstrate they hold Biden's 'margin of victory for re-election.'
More than 40 Democratic elected officials in the state have pledged to vote 'uncommitted' in Tuesday's primary.
Ahead of Tuesday's Democratic primary, the new polling found 75 percent support Biden while 9 percent plan to vote uncommitted, 5 percent support Dean Phillips and 12 percent are undecided.
The polling found 28 percent of voters under 30 plan to vote 'uncommitted' on Tuesday, which could signal significant trouble for Biden come November as Democrats typically garner more support from young people as its coalition to win.
Protesters rally at the University of Michigan on February 20 against Biden's support for Israel and demand a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war
Pro-palestinian activists have been urging Democratic voters to vote 'uncommitted' instead of for Biden in the Democratic presidential primary on Tuesday. Polling found 28 percent of young voters plan to vote 'uncommitted'
Search and rescue operations in the rubble of a collapsed building after an Israeli strike over Khan Yunis, Gaza on February 26
Israel has long been the United States' closest ally in the Middle East, and the war has put Biden between a rock and a hard place politically. He has been urging Congress to pass a funding package that includes aide to Israel. At the same time, earlier this month he called Israel's military operation in Gaza 'over the top.'
While the president faces political blowback over Israel in Michigan, the group PrimaryPivot focused on keeping Trump out of office, has sent out more than 260,000 texts to Michigan voters ahead of the primary with a focus on the war in Gaza, warning them not voting for Biden could help reelect Trump.
Meanwhile heading into the Republican primary, 69 percent of Republican primary voters back Trump, 20 percent back Nikki Haley and 11 percent are undecided.
Looking ahead to the potential general election matchup, the new Michigan polling found male voters broke for Trump 53 percent to 41 percent, while women voters broke for Biden 46 percent to 41 percent.
Michigan independent voters also broke for Trump 43 percent to Biden's 37 percent.
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