President Joe Biden expressed disappointment in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s efforts to secure a hostage deal between Israel and Hamas, following the discovery of the bodies of six hostages executed by Hamas, including American-Israeli Hersh Goldberg-Polin. The discovery has sparked massive protests in Israel, with demonstrators accusing Netanyahu of failing to secure a deal. A nationwide strike was called on Monday, threatening to paralyze the economy.
Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris met with the U.S. hostage deal negotiation team, expressing outrage at the murders and discussing next steps in securing the release of the remaining Israeli hostages. The administration has criticized both Hamas and Netanyahu for stalling efforts to reach an agreement. The president stated he was close to presenting a final deal this week, but could not guarantee its acceptance.
Biden has personally spoken to the families of the hostages and reiterated his commitment to continue pushing for their release. He emphasized the importance of holding Hamas accountable and working with mediators like Qatar and Egypt to secure a resolution. Despite the challenges, Biden remains hopeful for a positive outcome in the ongoing conflict.
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