Poli Alert Politics & Civics
Related Articles
Jimmy Williams
As President Joe Biden returned to the White House on Monday, he voiced frustration with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s efforts to secure a hostage agreement with Hamas.
Biden’s comments came ahead of a Situation Room meeting with Vice President Kamala Harris and U.S. hostage negotiators.
When asked by a reporter whether Netanyahu was doing enough to secure a hostage deal, Biden replied firmly, “No.”
The president was also asked about presenting a final proposal to Israel and Hamas this week after months of tense negotiations have yet to yield an agreement. “We’re very close to that,” Biden said, signaling that the U.S. is nearing a critical juncture in its efforts.
Senior administration officials indicate that Biden is considering putting forward a final proposal for a cease-fire and hostage release, though no final decision has been made. If negotiations collapse, it could mark the end of U.S.-led talks. “There’s a sense of urgency and belief that this negotiation needs to come to a close,” said one senior official.
Biden and his team have been deliberating whether to continue refining the deal’s technical details or present a bridging proposal aimed at closing the remaining gaps. A White House statement following the meeting reaffirmed Biden’s commitment to securing the release of hostages, calling for accountability from Hamas leadership.
“President Biden expressed his devastation and outrage at the murder, and reaffirmed the importance of holding Hamas’s leaders accountable,” read the White House statement. It added that Biden and Harris received an update from the U.S. negotiation team on the bridging proposal drafted by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt.
The president’s remarks came amid growing protests in Tel Aviv, with Israelis calling on Netanyahu to accept a cease-fire and hostage deal after six Israeli hostages were found dead in Gaza. Netanyahu blamed Hamas for refusing to engage in “real negotiations,” while Hamas accused Israel of evading an agreement.
Currently, 97 Israeli hostages remain in Gaza, including seven Americans. Three Americans are confirmed to have died in the conflict, including 23-year-old Hersh Goldberg-Polin, whose funeral was held in Jerusalem on Monday. Goldberg-Polin had been celebrating his birthday at a music festival when he was taken hostage by Hamas on October 7.
President Biden expressed his grief over the discovery of the six killed hostages, particularly Goldberg-Polin. “I have gotten to know his parents, Jon and Rachel. They have been courageous, wise, and steadfast, even as they have endured the unimaginable,” Biden said. “They have been relentless and irrepressible champions of their son and of all the hostages held in unconscionable conditions. I admire them and grieve with them more deeply than words can express.”
As negotiations move forward, the U.S. administration faces mounting pressure to secure a deal that would bring hostages home and end the bloodshed. The outcome of the discussions will have significant implications for Biden’s foreign policy as the clock ticks toward a potential cease-fire.
