President Joe Biden said Monday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not doing enough to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas and added he is “close” to presenting a final deal to negotiators working to strike a hostage and ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for president, also attended the meeting before joining Biden for a campaign event in Pittsburgh.
Demonstrators have called on Netanyahu to put aside political ambitions to strike an agreement that would allow hostages to be released.
As the president left for Pittsburgh, CNN’s Arlette Saenz asked him what more he wanted Netanyahu to do.
“We’re very close to that,” Biden said when asked by CNN if he was planning to present a final proposal.
Netanyahu was more vociferous in his complaints about how Hamas is treating the ceasefire talks.
You get more concessions,” Netanyahu argued, adding that international pressure should be directed at Hamas.
“I don’t believe that either President Biden or anyone serious about achieving peace and achieving the release would seriously ask Israel, Israel, to make these concessions.
Between the hostages and the Israeli military presence in the corridor, the “Philadelphi was more important,” Hayya alleged.
A permanent IDF presence in the Philadelphi corridor would also contradict the US position on the future of Gaza.
Speaking on Monday, President Joe Biden said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not going far enough in securing the release of hostages held by Hamas. He also mentioned that he is “close” to delivering a final offer to those negotiating a ceasefire and hostage situation in Gaza.
As he made his way back to the White House to meet with American officials, the president made his remarks. They were trying to broker a deal that would combine the ceasefire with the release of hostages held in Gaza. Prior to accompanying Biden on a campaign stop in Pittsburgh, Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris also attended the meeting.
The discovery of the bodies of six hostages—among them the Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin—in a tunnel beneath the southern Gaza city of Rafah over the weekend gave the hostage release efforts even more urgency.
Israel has seen massive protests and a nationwide strike on Monday as a result of the deaths’ outrage. To reach a deal that would permit the release of the hostages, protesters have urged Netanyahu to set aside his political aspirations.
When asked on Monday if Netanyahu was going above and beyond to reach a consensus, Biden responded curtly, “No.”. “.
The White House is deeply frustrated with Netanyahu’s handling of the conflict and the hostage talks, as evidenced by his one-word response, which also reflected Biden’s reluctance to criticize Netanyahu in public.
The president’s proposal on May 31 and the American bridging proposal on August 16 were accepted by Prime Minister Netanyahu, not Hamas leader Sinwar, who remains opposed to any agreement. This is noteworthy, according to a senior Israeli source who disapproved of Biden’s remarks. “.
“The timing of the president’s remarks—coming just days after Hamas killed six hostages, one of whom was an American citizen—makes them extremely risky. “.
In response to the criticism, a US official stated, “The president has made it very clear that Hamas is the group that killed Hersh and the others, and that the leaders of Hamas will pay a price for their crimes. Also, he is pleading with the Israeli government to act quickly to secure the release of the last hostages who are still missing. “.
Two bosses at cross purposes.
It’s the most recent indication of the long-standing, sometimes tense relationship between the two leaders, which has become strained over the course of Israel’s war in Gaza in reaction to Hamas’ attacks on October 7.
Later, Biden avoided answering queries concerning Israel’s reaction to his remarks. CNN’s Arlette Saenz questioned the president about his wishes for Netanyahu as he was leaving for Pittsburgh.
“Negotiations are currently underway,” stated Biden.
“We’re still in negotiations,” Biden said in response to questions concerning Netanyahu’s remarks about him. “Not with him, but with my colleagues from Qatar and Egypt.”. “.
Though the officials also expressed doubts about Hamas’ sincerity in reaching a settlement, American officials stated that the deaths of the six hostages over the weekend would probably put additional pressure on Netanyahu to reach a deal.
When asked by CNN if he intended to present a final proposal, Biden replied, “We’re very close to that.”.
When asked on Monday what makes the new agreement that is being finalized different from previous failed proposals, Biden said, “Hope springs eternal.”. “.
Asking if he intended to speak with the prime minister, Biden was questioned upon his return to the White House following the Pittsburgh rally.
“In due time,” he answered.
Netanyahu’s criticism of Hamas’s handling of the cease-fire negotiations was louder than before. “Hamas has to make the concessions,” he stated at a press conference on Monday, adding that Israel has already demonstrated “seriousness in the negotiations.”. “.
“Israel approved the US proposal, according to Secretary (Antony) Blinken on August 19. That is what Hamas needs to do now. The deputy director of the CIA stated that “Israel shows seriousness in the negotiations” on August 28, which is five days ago. He stated, “Hamas now needs to demonstrate the same seriousness.”. “What has changed in the last five days, I would like to know? One thing has changed: these murderers killed six of our hostages. They fired a shot to their head’s back. It is the new situation. “.
“After this, we’re supposed to be serious? Are we supposed to give in? What kind of message is this sending to Hamas? It says, murder more hostages. Take hostages once more. Asserting that Hamas should be the target of international pressure, Netanyahu stated, “You get more concessions.”.
“In my opinion, neither President Biden nor anybody else who is sincere about bringing about peace and obtaining the release would sincerely ask Israel to make these compromises. These have already been made. According to Netanyahu, Hamas must make the necessary adjustments.
Officials are still working to move the deal along.
According to a source familiar with the talks, officials tasked with mediating the ceasefire talks have been corresponding over the phone about strategies to advance both the ceasefire and the hostage agreement since the news broke that the six hostages in Gaza had been killed.
However, the source’s initial response was, “And this guy torpedoed everything in one speech,” after Netanyahu’s press conference on Monday night, during which he claimed that Israel would never leave the Philadelphia corridor.
Premier of Qatar Mohammad Abudlrahman Al Thani met with David Barnea, the director of Mossad, on Monday after Barnea traveled to Doha.
Leading Hamas negotiator Khalil Al-Hayya informed Al Jazeera on Sunday that an agreement requiring the Israel Defense Forces to evacuate the Philadelphi corridor—which stretches along the border between Egypt and Gaza—would not be possible. According to Hayya, the Israeli military’s presence in the corridor and the hostages made the Philadelphia more significant.
According to people familiar with the negotiations, Netanyahu’s recent insistence on remaining in Philadelphia signifies a shift in stance. The plan called for an IDF withdrawal from populated areas towards the east when Biden unveiled it on May 31 and claimed Israel had agreed to it. A draft that made the rounds in Israeli media claimed to omit any reference to Philadelphi.
Israel then added staying in Philadelphia as a condition in the weeks that followed, and the recent negotiations have covered the nature of the IDF presence along the border.
The US position on Gaza’s future would also be at odds with an IDF presence in the Philadelphi corridor that is permanent. Blinken informed reporters that the US would not tolerate “any long-term occupation of Gaza by Israel” during his most recent visit to Israel in August. Administration representatives have stated unequivocally that they anticipate that any long-term ceasefire agreement will result in Israel’s complete withdrawal from Gaza.
Further reporting has been incorporated into this story.
Jeremy Diamond of CNN contributed to this story.
