Democratic presidential challenger Rebel Rep. Dean Phillips will not accept the terms of the hostage release deal the Biden administration recently negotiated with Hamas terrorists, Minnesota Democrats said this week.
Under the terms of the deal, which will take effect Friday, 50 women and children detained by Hamas in Gaza will be released in exchange for the release of a number of Palestinians imprisoned in Israel.
The agreement also includes a temporary ceasefire in Gaza that will last for four days.
Phillips, who launched his bid to unseat the 80-year-old president last month, slammed the deal, arguing that it was not enough for Americans to be held hostage in the Palestinian territories.
“No, because we have nine Americans who are now being held captive by Hamas, [who] have been there for six weeks, including at least one child,” Phillips, 54, said during a CNN interview Tuesday when asked if he would accept the ransom deal.
Phillips called it “inexcusable” that Biden was unable to free Americans held by Hamas.AP The hostage release deal was reached after negotiations between Hamas, Egypt, Israel and the Biden administration. Shawn Thew / Pool via CNP / SplashNews.com
“And now, I expect American special forces may play a role in extracting them,” Phillips added. “I think it’s ridiculous, shocking and disappointing that six weeks later, we still have an American hostage being held by a terrorist organization in Gaza.”
On Wednesday, the congressman explained in a X post that he was “pleased with the release of several hostages and a pause for humanitarian aid to reach Gaza” but reiterated that “it is unacceptable that the American people remain held by Hamas.”
“[I]it’s been over six weeks and it’s inexcusable,” Phillips said.
Hamas agreed Tuesday to release 50 hostages held in the Gaza Strip.AFP via Getty Images
The Israeli government, which has long rejected talks on a ceasefire without the release of all Hamas hostages, approved the deal Tuesday following an hours-long cabinet meeting.
The deal was put together after weeks of negotiations between Israel, Hamas, the US and Egypt, moderated by the Qatari government.
If both sides hold up their end of the deal, it would lead to the first major release of hostages since the October 7 terror attacks on the Jewish state, in which more than 1,200 people were massacred and some 240 others kidnapped by Hamas.
Israeli airstrikes and ground attacks targeting the terror group have killed about 12,000 people, according to the Hamas-run Palestinian Authority.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
