Biden: Netanyahu not doing enough to secure Gaza ceasefire deal
Washington (Quds News Network)- United States President Joe Biden has said Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not doing enough to finalize a Gaza ceasefire deal.
On Monday, Biden told reporters outside the White House that the US is “very close” to presenting a final proposal that would lead to the release of Israeli captives in Gaza.
Asked why he thinks this push would succeed when other attempts to bring about a ceasefire in Gaza have failed, Biden said: “Hope springs eternal.”
He then answered with a simple “no” when a reporter asked him whether Netanyahu is doing enough to secure a ceasefire agreement with Hamas.
Biden met with the US team negotiating the captive release deal after he made his comments on Monday, and received an update on the status of the discussions, the White House said.
The renewed US effort to reach a ceasefire comes two days after six Israeli captives – including one American citizen – were found dead in Rafah “a short while” before the Israeli forces reached them.
The discovery has fuelled mass protests and strikes across Israel demanding a deal to free the remaining captives.
Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri told the Reuters news agency later on Monday that Biden’s comments are an acknowledgement that Israel is undermining ceasefire efforts.
