President Biden Discusses Progress on U.S. Objectives with China and Return of Hostages Held by Hamas

President Biden held a press conference in Northern California on Wednesday night, following a day of meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping. During the conference, the president discussed progress on key U.S. objectives with China, as well as the return of hostages held by Hamas.

The president said he is “deeply involved” in negotiations for the hostages’ release, and is doing everything he can for their return. He added that this does not mean the U.S. is sending in its military. He also expressed his hope that he and Xi can understand each other clearly, with no misconceptions or miscommunications.

The president also said he was “mildly hopeful” about the return of the hostages, and that he was confident in the intelligence that Hamas is operating a command center under the Al-Shifa hospital. He did not, however, disclose how the U.S. concluded this.

The meeting between Biden and Xi was their first face-to-face meeting in more than a year, and was aimed at stabilizing fraught relations between the two countries. The meeting had far-reaching implications for a world grappling with economic cross currents and wars in the Middle East and Europe.

The president’s press conference concluded with his assurance that he is doing everything he can for the hostages’ return, and that he is confident in the intelligence that Hamas is operating a command center under the Al-Shifa hospital.