Official Statement by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III
I am pleased that Israel and Hamas have today secured a ceasefire and hostage-release deal, after months of determined diplomacy by the United States, along with Egypt and Qatar. From President Biden on down, we have worked tirelessly as one administration to reach this deal and this day. This deal must be implemented rigorously, but it can open a new window of hope for Israelis and Palestinians after the months of bloodshed and anguish that followed Hamas’s despicable terrorist assault on Israel on October 7, 2023.
We bow our heads today in memory of all those slain by Hamas on October 7, for every murdered hostage, and for all the innocent civilians killed in this tragic war initiated by Hamas—including far too many children. For them, their families, and their loved ones, this ceasefire and hostage-release deal has come too late. The Department again offers our deepest condolences to the families of all of our American citizens killed in this harrowing war, and it renews today our unstinting commitment to bring home the Americans still being held in Gaza and to finally return the remains of our slain fellow citizens to their mourning families.
After these months of terror and trauma, we recommit ourselves today to move toward a more hopeful, secure, and just future for Israelis and Palestinians alike. Israelis and Palestinians need not be doomed to eternal conflict, and with leadership and wisdom, we can make progress toward the day when Israelis and Palestinians live side by side in peace and security in two sovereign states, with mutual security and dignity. And we remember that the children of Abraham are taught that whoever saves a single life saves an entire world.
Sources: THX News & US Department of Defense.
