Biden says Netanyahu isn't doing enough to get a hostage deal
President Joe Biden on Monday said he did not think Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had done enough to secure a hostage deal between Israel and Hamas.
President Joe Biden on Monday said he did not think Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had done enough to secure a hostage deal between Israel and Hamas, a comment that comes amid massive protests in Israel.
Biden made the remark to reporters after a weekend during which the bodies of six hostages executed by Hamas were found in a Gaza tunnel. Among those discovered was the body of 23-year-old American Israeli Hersh Goldberg-Polin, whose parents had publicly pleaded for the return of their son. The pair had brought their personal appeal to the Democratic National Convention, where they were received with a standing ovation.
Two people briefed on discussions to secure a deal told NBC News that Biden may offer a final “take it or leave it” deal to Israel and Hamas as soon as this week in hope of reaching a cease-fire agreement. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan suggested the move as an option during a virtual meeting with U.S. hostage families Sunday, these people said.
The discovery of the hostages has launched massive protests of hundreds of thousands of people across Israel as dissenters accuse Netanyahu of failing to land a hostage deal. On Monday, a nationwide strike ensued, threatening to paralyze the economy.
Reporters asked Biden if he thought Netanyahu had done enough to secure an agreement, and Biden answered: “No.”
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