Updated May 20, 2021 at 6:37 PM ET
Speaking at the White House an hour before an Egyptian-brokered cease-fire was set to go into effect in Israel and Gaza, President Biden expressed gratitude for the deal — which, if successful, would put at least a temporary halt to rocket attacks, airstrikes and other violence that has killed more than 200 Palestinians, as well as at least a dozen Israelis.
Biden's remarks were fittingly brief: just three minutes. The administration shied away from public pressure or public statements throughout the conflict, instead prioritizing what White House officials constantly referenced as "quiet" diplomacy.
In fact, Biden's Thursday evening statement was the first time he delivered formal remarks on the 11 days of fighting. Every other time Biden weighed in, it was at the prodding of reporters after he had finished speaking about other topics.
Throughout this period of relative silence — especially compared to how previous presidents have dealt with crises in the Middle East — the White House emphasized how often Biden and other key figures, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, were on the phone with officials in Israel, Egypt, Jordan and other Middle Eastern states.
By Thursday, the total number of calls White House officials were touting to reporters had grown to 80, including a half dozen conversations between Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — as well as calls to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Egyptian President Fattah Al Sisi and others.
A good portion of Biden's remarks Thursday was simply thanking the various officials his administration had worked with to bring about a cease-fire.
"These hostilities have resulted in the tragic deaths of so many civilians, including children," Biden said. "I sent my sincere condolences to all the families, Israeli and Palestinian, who have lost loved ones, and my hope for a full recovery for the wounded."
Throughout the conflict, Biden emphasized Israel's right to defend itself against rocket attacks, as he did again Thursday. As the death toll mounted, Biden faced increased pressure from Democratic allies in Congress to ramp up pressure on Israel to scale back its strikes on Gaza, and to speak more about Palestinians, as well.
Biden ended his remarks by promising U.S. support for "reconstruction efforts" in Gaza. "We will do this in full partnership with the Palestinian Authority — not Hamas," he said, "in a manner that does not permit Hamas to simply restock its military arsenal."
"I believe the Palestinians and Israelis equally deserve to live safely and securely, and to enjoy equal measures of freedom, prosperity and democracy. My administration will continue our quiet, relentless diplomacy toward that end," Biden said.
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