Egypt Daily News – President Joe Biden criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday for not doing enough to negotiate the release of hostages held by Hamas.
Biden said that the U.S. is close to finalizing a proposal aimed at resolving the hostage situation. His remarks followed the Israeli army’s announcement of recovering the bodies of six hostages, including a young American-Israeli, who were reportedly killed by Hamas gunfire.
Biden’s comments have led to heightened scrutiny of his administration’s approach to the ceasefire negotiations in Gaza, particularly in the context of the ongoing U.S. presidential election campaign.
This intensifies the pressure on Netanyahu from Israelis who are increasingly demanding the release of the remaining hostages. When pressed on whether Netanyahu was making sufficient efforts, Biden responded with a clear “No”!
The recent deaths of the 6 hostages, has drawn sharp criticism of Biden’s handling of the crisis. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris held a meeting with the American negotiating team, expressing feelings of “pain and anger” over the killings, and were briefed on proposals for hostages made by the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt.
Israeli officials responded by highlighting that the pressure should also be directed at Hamas’s leadership rather than solely on Netanyahu. They emphasized that the timing of Biden’s comments, following the execution of hostages, could be seen as dangerous. A senior Hamas official interpreted Biden’s remarks as acknowledging Netanyahu’s role in hindering negotiations.
As protests in Israel continue along with a general strike organized by labor unions demanding action regarding the hostages, the effectiveness of months-long negotiations mediated by the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt remains in question.
The lack of progress in the hostage negotiations has increased frustration among various groups, including U.S. lawmakers and the public, prompting calls for a reevaluation of U.S. support for Israel in the ongoing conflict.
