February 29, 2024

President Joe Biden’s upcoming State of the Union address was already a high-stakes setting to discuss his handling of the Israel-Hamas war, with pressure mounting from fellow Democrats for a major change of course.

But as prospects for a temporary cease-fire took a major hit on Thursday, it seemed all but certain that the president would deliver the speech without the component he and his team desperately wanted: a diplomatic achievement to tout.

Biden acknowledged that a detente between the two sides was now in serious danger after Palestinian authorities said Israel had opened fire on a food truck convoy in Gaza City, killing dozens. While Biden said he remained hopeful for a deal, he conceded one would not likely come within the optimistic time frame he’d set earlier this week, when he had mused that a breakthrough could happen over the weekend.

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https://www.politico.com/news/2024/02/29/biden-sotu-israel-cease-fire-00144274