This comes amid reports that a new proposal, described as 'final,' will soon be presented to Netanyahu. (XJoeBiden)
New Delhi: President Joe Biden expressed frustration with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of not doing enough to secure a hostage deal and ceasefire with Hamas. This comes amid reports that a new proposal, described as 'final,' will soon be presented to Netanyahu. The urgency of the situation has escalated following the deaths of six hostages in Gaza over the weekend, which sparked widespread protests across Israel.
In an interview with BBC, when asked whether Netanyahu was taking sufficient action, Biden bluntly replied, "No." He assured that the United States remains committed to pushing for a resolution, stating, "We will push as hard as we can" for a deal. According to the Washington Post, US officials have characterized the latest proposal as a "take it or leave it" offer.
The weekend discovery of six hostages' bodies, including Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, has intensified criticism of Netanyahu's handling of the ongoing conflict and the hostage crisis. Protests erupted across Israel, with many holding the Prime Minister responsible for the deaths and urging immediate action.
During a high-level meeting in the White House's Situation Room on Monday, Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris reviewed the next steps in their efforts to secure the hostages' release. They discussed ongoing negotiations with Qatar and Egypt, who have been co-mediating the talks. Following the meeting, Biden released a statement expressing deep sorrow and outrage over the deaths of the hostages, vowing that "Hamas leaders will pay for these crimes."
Jake Sullivan, Biden's national security adviser, met with the families of the remaining hostages on Sunday, informing them of the forthcoming "final" proposal. The family of Edan Alexander, an Israeli soldier still held in Gaza, has urged Israel to accept the deal, emphasizing that it is "now or never."
Adi Alexander, Edan's father, has praised the US for its relentless efforts, noting that Sunday marked his 15th meeting with Sullivan since his son's abduction on October 7. However, he also called on US officials to "do something different" as the situation remains unchanged after 11 months. He accused Netanyahu of "prolonging the war for short-term political gain," stressing that "time is passing by, and we're getting more bodies out of Gaza."
The Washington Post reported that the recent deaths of the hostages have heightened the urgency among Biden's team to finalize a deal. A senior official stated, "You can't keep negotiating this. This process has to be called at some point." The official emphasized that the situation should add "additional urgency in this closing phase."
The US, along with Qatar and Egypt, has been working for months to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of the remaining hostages held by Hamas. The Biden administration has criticized Hamas for its reluctance to agree to a deal but has also expressed concerns over Netanyahu's demands that have stalled progress.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza has huge implications for Biden's administration, particularly as Vice President Harris prepares for the upcoming US presidential election. Pro-Palestinian factions within the Democratic Party have been vocal in their calls for a ceasefire. Meanwhile, Republican nominee Donald Trump has blamed Biden and Harris for the failure to secure a deal, citing the recent hostage deaths as evidence of their shortcomings.
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