An “outraged” President Joe Biden, in the wake of six hostages being killed in Gaza, including an American-Israeli, said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was not doing enough to secure a deal for a cease-fire and to bring the remaining hostages home.
Negotiations have stalled and Biden said he was considering a possible last-ditch effort to bring both sides to an agreement as he returned to the White House on Monday morning to huddle with the U.S. hostage negotiating team.
As he made his way inside to the Situation Room meeting, Biden was asked if by a reporter, “Do you think it’s time Prime Minister Netanyahu to do more on this issue, do you think he’s doing enough?”
“No,” Biden replied, emphatically.
The president was also asked if he was planning to present a “final” proposed hostage deal to Israel and Hamas this week after months of tense negotiations have failed to yield results.
“We’re very close to that,” Biden responded. When he left the White House hours later, Biden said they were “still negotiating” with Egypt and Qatar — but not with Netanyahu — when asked again about the possibility of a final deal being proposed and his reaction to Biden’s earlier comments.
Netanyahu on Monday pushed back on what he called “international pressure” on Israel, saying such statements should instead be directed at Hamas.
“I don’t believe President Biden or anyone serious about achieving peace and achieving the release can seriously ask Israel, Israel to make these concessions,” Netanyahu said. “We’ve already made them. Hamas has to make concessions.”
According to senior administration officials, President Biden is considering presenting Israel and Hamas a final proposal for a cease-fire and hostage deal in Gaza but nothing is definitive.
If the deal falls apart, there is a chance it could lead to the end of the U.S.-led negotiations, according to one of the officials.
Another senior official said that they all have a “sense of urgency and believe this negotiation needs to come to a close.”
Biden is deliberating whether the parties should continue hashing out the deal and its technical details, or if the U.S. should present a new proposal that bridges the gaps.
“President Biden expressed his devastation and outrage at the murder, and reaffirmed the importance of holding Hamas’s leaders accountable,” the White House said in a statement after the meeting.
“During the meeting, President Biden and Vice President Harris received an update from the U.S. negotiation team on the status of the bridging proposal outlined by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt,” the White House said. “They discussed next steps in the ongoing effort to secure the release of hostages, including continuing consultations with co-mediators Qatar and Egypt.”
“Make no mistake, Hamas leaders will pay for these crimes,” Biden posted on X after the meeting.
Vice President Kamala Harris, in a post to X, shared a photo inside the Situation Room and reiterated Biden’s call to hold Hamas accountable and to push for a hostage deal.
“The murder of Hersh Goldberg-Polin and five other hostages was a brutal, barbaric act by Hamas terrorists,” she wrote .”As [President Biden] said, Hamas leaders will pay for these crimes. It is long past time for a ceasefire and hostage deal. We need to bring the hostages home and end the suffering in Gaza.”
As Biden returned to Washington to speak with his team, protests were unfolding in Tel Aviv calling for Prime Minister Netanyahu to accept a cease-fire and hostage-release deal with Hamas after six Israeli hostages were found dead in Gaza.
Netanyahu on Sunday had said efforts to free hostages are ongoing and blamed Hamas for refusing “to conduct real negotiations.”
Hamas, meanwhile, said it was Israel who “evading reaching a ceasefire agreement.”
Ninety-seven Israeli hostages remain in Gaza, including seven Americans, three of whom are confirmed to be dead.
On Monday, the funeral procession is being held for Hersh Goldberg-Polin in Jerusalem. The 23-year-old was at a music festival in south Israel celebrating his birthday on Oct. 7 when he was taken hostage by Hamas.
President Biden said he was “devastated and outraged” after Israel Defense Forces recovered the six killed hostages, including Goldberg-Polin.
“I have gotten to know his parents, Jon and Rachel. They have been courageous, wise, and steadfast, even as they have endured the unimaginable,” Biden said. “They have been relentless and irrepressible champions of their son and of all the hostages held in unconscionable conditions. I admire them and grieve with them more deeply than words can express.”
