President Joe Biden criticized Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu Monday for not doing enough to secure a deal to release hostages that remain in Hamas captivity after Hamas killed six hostages days earlier.
The lame-duck president spoke to reporters outside the White House and faced questions about ongoing negotiations concerning a cease-fire agreement to pause the war between Israel and Hamas. He said the negotiating parties are “very close” to a hostage deal and criticized Netanyahu for not doing more to help finalize an agreement.
“Mr. President, do you think it’s time for prime minister Netanyahu to do more on this issue? Do you think he’s doing enough?” a reporter asked him.
“No,” Biden replied.
Hamas recently killed six hostages, including Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, one of many hostages kidnapped at the Nova music festival during Hamas’s mass civilian slaughter on October 7. His left arm was blown off by an exploding grenade during Hamas’s attack on the music-festival attendees.
The Israeli Defense Forces found the six bodies in a tunnel in Rafah soon after Hamas killed them. Israel launched a military offensive in Rafah earlier this year despite persistent warnings from Biden administration officials that the U.S. did not support a large-scale campaign in the southern Gazan city.
Biden told reporters he spoke to Goldberg-Polin’s parents, whose public diplomacy on behalf of their son made him one of the most well-known hostages. Goldberg-Polin’s parents gave a moving speech at the Democratic convention only weeks earlier to push for his release alongside all of the other remaining hostages.
“I have worked tirelessly to bring their beloved Hersh safely to them and am heartbroken by the news of his death. It is as tragic as it is reprehensible. Make no mistake, Hamas leaders will pay for these crimes. And we will keep working around the clock for a deal to secure the release of the remaining hostages,” Biden said in a statement mourning Goldberg-Polin’s death.
Israelis took to the streets of Tel Aviv in droves Sunday to protest Netanyahu’s handling of the hostage negotiations and demand an agreement to free the remaining hostages. Demonstrators could be seen holding Israeli flags and displaying signage harshly criticizing Netanyahu’s leadership and war strategy.
On top of that, Thousands of Israeli workers participated in a labor strike Monday, shutting down many Israeli schools and businesses until a court ordered the labor union behind the strike to call it off.
“Citizens of Israel, our efforts to free our hostages are continuing constantly,” Netanyahu said in an address after the deceased hostages were recovered. He blamed Hamas for refusing the latest cease-fire proposal recommended by the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar.
“Even after the U.S. updated the deal framework on August 16, we agreed, and Hamas again refused. In recent days, as Israel has been holding intensive negotiations with the mediator in a supreme effort to reach a deal, Hamas is continuing to steadfastly refuse all proposals,” he added.
Hamas has blamed Israel for the stalled negotiations and promised retaliation after the death of its political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, in July during a visit to Iran for the inauguration of its new president. Iran was expected to retaliate after Haniyeh’s death, but thus far, the attack has not come to pass.