Biden Criticizes Netanyahu for Inaction on Hostage Crisis and Ceasefire Efforts
President Joe Biden has criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for not doing enough to reach a hostage release deal and secure a ceasefire with Hamas. The criticism comes amid reports of a final proposal being prepared for Netanyahu by the U.S.
Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris recently met with negotiators in the Situation Room to finalize the proposal, as protests erupted in Israel following the deaths of six hostages in Gaza over the weekend. When asked if Netanyahu was making sufficient efforts, Biden responded with a firm “no,” emphasizing the U.S. commitment to pushing for an agreement.
U.S. officials have described this latest proposal as a “take it or leave it” offer, according to the Washington Post. This proposal follows Israel’s recovery of the bodies of six hostages in Gaza on Saturday, a tragic event that has intensified criticism of Netanyahu’s handling of the war and the ongoing hostage crisis.
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan met with the U.S. families of hostages on Sunday, telling them that Biden would present a “final” proposal for a hostage release and ceasefire later this week, as reported by Axios. Among those advocating for Israel to accept the deal is the family of Edan Alexander, an Israeli soldier still held hostage in Gaza. His father, Adi Alexander, praised the U.S. for its dedication to securing a deal but expressed frustration in an interview with CBS News, urging American officials to “try something different” as efforts over the past 11 months have not yielded results. He accused Netanyahu of prolonging the conflict for “short-term political gain,” saying, “We are running out of time, and more bodies are being pulled out of Gaza. This cannot go on.”
The deaths of the six hostages have heightened urgency among Biden’s aides to finalize a deal. “There comes a point when negotiations must conclude,” a senior official told the Washington Post. “Does this derail the deal? No, it should only add urgency to the final stages we are already in.”
For months, the U.S., along with Qatar and Egypt, has been working to broker a deal that includes a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of the remaining hostages held by Hamas. While the Biden administration has condemned Hamas for not agreeing to a deal, some U.S. officials have also pointed fingers at Netanyahu, accusing him of making demands that have stalled negotiations.
The conflict in Gaza began after Hamas breached the border on October 7, killing 1,200 Israelis and capturing 251 hostages. In retaliation, Israel has conducted military operations that have resulted in over 40,000 Palestinian deaths, according to figures from the Gaza Health Ministry, which is run by Hamas.
The U.S. response to the conflict has sparked political repercussions at home, affecting the Biden administration and Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for the upcoming presidential election. Pro-Palestinian factions within the Democratic Party have called for a ceasefire. Meanwhile, Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, has criticized Biden and Harris for their inability to secure a deal, blaming them for the deaths of the hostages last weekend.
