When asked by the press upon his arrival at the White House on Monday, September 2, whether Benjamin Netanyahu was “doing enough” to obtain an agreement, Joe Biden answered “no.”
US President Joe Biden said on Monday, September 2, that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was not doing enough to reach an agreement for the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Biden was speaking just before meeting with U.S. negotiators working to free hostages in the war between Israel and Hamas, after six of them were killed, including an Israeli-American. Vice President Kamala Harris, who is running to succeed Biden in November, is attending the meeting at the White House.
When asked by the press upon his arrival at the White House whether Benjamin Netanyahu was “doing enough” to get an agreement, Joe Biden answered “no”.
During the meeting, Biden and Harris will “discuss efforts to reach an agreement that will secure the release of the remaining hostages,” an official statement said.
Hostage exchange for Palestinian prisoners
The United States, along with Egypt and Qatar, which have also acted as mediators, have been pushing for months for an exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners and a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
In the Hamas attack on October 7 in southern Israel, 251 people were abducted and taken to the Gaza Strip. Of these, 97 are still being held there, including 33 who have been declared dead by the Israeli army.
Story 4: In Israel, tension is at its peak – 05/08
Many hostages were released during a week-long truce in November.
A national strike, with uneven coverage, began in Israel on Monday to increase pressure on the prime minister, who many Israelis accuse of not doing enough to bring them back alive.
