Chair of Senate Foreign Relations Committee says prisoner swap 'hopeful signal'

The head of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee has put out a cautious statement welcoming the temporary truce and prisoner swap between Hamas and Israel.

"The agreement reached today to release approximately 50 hostages is a hopeful signal for some of the American and Israeli families whose lives have been shattered in the wake of the October 7 terrorist attack against Israel,” Democratic Senator Ben Cardin said on social media platform X.

US President Joe Biden has faced some pressure within his administration and the Democratic party to take a tougher line against Israel amid the war.

While Biden has faced pushback over his unconditional support with some grassroots party members, Democratic lawmakers have been less assertive.

Nearly forty members of the US House of Representatives have called for a ceasefire, but only 2 senators—both Democrats—have issued a similar call.