Biden: Netanyahu not doing enough to secure hostage deal

2024-09-02 22:28:25, Kosova & Bota CNA

Biden: Netanyahu not doing enough to secure hostage deal

The President of the United States, Joe Biden. Source, AP

United States President Joe Biden said Monday that Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not doing enough to secure a deal for the release of hostages being held in the Gaza Strip by Hamas - the Palestinian terrorist group. from the US and the EU.

Biden also stressed that the US is close to presenting a final proposal to negotiators working to reach an agreement on hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza.

Biden made the comments to reporters at the White House, a day after Israeli forces pulled the bodies of six hostages killed in a Gaza tunnel.

The Israeli military said they were recently killed by Hamas militants.

The killing of these hostages prompted criticism of the Bedini administration's strategy for a ceasefire in Gaza, as well as increased pressure on Netanyahu from Israelis to return the remaining hostages to Gaza.

Asked if Netanyahu is doing enough to reach a deal on the hostages, Biden said, "No," without elaborating.

Biden said he is "very close" to presenting a final hostage deal to both sides.

"Hope dies last", he said when asked if the agreement will be successful.

Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris held a meeting Monday with the US hostage negotiating team, during which Biden expressed "outrage and sadness" over the killing of the hostages, the White House said.

Biden's fresh criticism of Netanyahu comes as he and Kamala Harris, who will run in his place in the November election, face continued calls for decisive action to end the nearly 11-month-old war. in Gaza.

Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said Biden's criticism of Netanyahu meant that "America recognizes that Netanyahu is responsible for undermining efforts to reach an agreement."

Netanyahu, who has accused Hamas of obstructing a deal, said at the weekend that "anyone who kills hostages does not want a deal."

Israeli citizens took to the streets on Monday for the second day in a row, and the largest labor union launched a general strike to pressure the government to reach a deal on the return of the hostages.

The negotiations, with temporary interruptions, under the mediation of the USA, Qatar and Egypt, have failed to produce an agreement on the proposal put forward by Biden in May./ REL