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Biden says Netanyahu not doing enough to secure captives deal
US President Joe Biden says he does not believe Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is doing enough to achieve a prisoner-captives exchange deal with Hamas.
Netanyahu has insisted on staying in the Netzarim and Philadelphi Corridors, which has become a negotiation stalemate.
He's said it before, but instead of doing something Biden seems to have given up.
Israeli official pushes back on Biden’s comments
Following Biden’s comment that Netanyahu was not doing enough to secure a ceasefire deal with Hamas, Israeli media is quoting a senior Israeli official as saying that Biden’s remarks were “puzzling”.
The official, who is part of Netanyahu’s office, said the PM agreed to the US proposal “as early as May 31 and to the US bridging proposal on August 16”.
Biden’s comment “is especially dangerous when it is made just days after Hamas executed six Israeli hostages, including an American citizen”, the official added.
However, the May 31 US proposal the official is referring to was a speech Biden gave that shared details of the captives deal. It did not include the demand by Israel to maintain control over the Philadelphi Corridor.
This demand, made by Netanyahu, was only made in July and has since become a key obstacle in securing a deal.
Biden comments acknowledge Netanyahu undermining deal: Hamas
Responding to US President Joe Biden’s remarks on Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu “not doing enough” during ceasefire talks, senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri says the comments are an acknowledgement that Israel’s leader is undermining efforts.
Any proposal for a permanent ceasefire and complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza would be received positively, Abu Zuhri said.
Biden says close to presenting final deal for Gaza
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Biden said he was close to presenting a final proposal for a deal to release captives held in Gaza.
Israeli forces, over the weekend, recovered the bodies of six captives, including Hersh Goldberg-Polin, a 23-year-old American-Israeli, from Gaza. That sparked criticism of the Biden administration’s Gaza ceasefire strategy and ratcheted up pressure on Netanyahu from Israelis to bring the remaining captives back.
Asked whether he thought Netanyahu was doing enough to secure a hostage deal, Biden said: “No.”
He did not elaborate. Asked if he was planning to present a final deal to both sides this week, Biden said: “We’re very close to that.”
I guess Iran will see that as a green light to retaliate for the bombing of Ismail Haniyeh in Theran. Netanyahu isn't going to accept it, Hamas won't accept it if Biden's altered deal includes Netanyahu's extra stipulations.
