President Biden claimed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had not done enough to secure a hostage deal with Hamas terrorists.
Biden made the remarks to reporters before heading to the Situation Room where he and Vice President Harris met with the hostage deal negotiating team after Hamas killed Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg Pollin, 23, and five other hostages on Saturday.
The meeting was closed to reporters, but the White House released a summary and photos after the meeting.
“President Biden expressed sadness and outrage over the killings and reaffirmed the importance of holding Hamas leaders accountable,” the White House said in a statement. “During their meeting, President Biden and Vice President Harris received a report from the U.S. negotiating team on the status of the bridge proposal put together by the United States, Qatar and Egypt. They discussed next steps in ongoing efforts to release the hostages, including continuing discussions with co-mediators Qatar and Egypt.”
Secretary of State Antony Blinken was seen in photographs sitting next to Harris during the meeting. Other attendees included CIA Director Bill Burns, Biden's Chief of Staff Jeff Zients, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, Assistant to the President and Chief of National Security Staff John Finer, Assistant to the President and National Security Adviser to the Vice President Phil Gordon, and Assistant to the President and National Security Council Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa Brett McGurk.
Father of Israeli-American hostage pleads for deal 'with the devil' before Biden, Harris enter Situation Room
The White House released a photo of President Biden in the Situation Room. (The White House)
Biden was answering questions from reporters on Monday before heading to the Situation Room. As Biden disembarked from Marine One on the White House South Lawn after returning from his vacation home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, a reporter asked, “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?”
“No,” the president replied firmly.
Asked Monday why he believes the deal will be successful, unlike other proposals, Biden said, “I remain hopeful.” The president said he is “very close” to presenting a final hostage agreement. He told reporters he plans to meet with the National Security Council and then fly to Pittsburgh later in the day.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Vice President Harris in the Situation Room. (Office of the Vice President)
“Yes. I've spoken to the American hostage … I've spoken to his parents. We're not giving up. We're going to continue to try as hard as we can. Thank you,” Biden said.
Before Biden and Harris entered the Situation Room, Jonathan Dekel Chen, the father of an Israeli-American hostage still being held by Hamas, pleaded for the U.S. and Israel to broker a deal with “the devil.”
Netanyahu mourns deaths of six hostages rescued in Gaza, vows to 'finish it off' with Hamas
President Joe Biden walks from Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington after returning from Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, Monday, September 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Speaking on Fox & Friends, Dekel Chen acknowledged that the US was working with Qatar and Egypt to broker a deal between Israel and the “brutal terrorist organisation”, but argued that Israeli intelligence currently shows Hamas' power is weakening.
President Biden speaks to reporters on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Monday, Sept. 2, 2024, after returning from Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
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He said Prime Minister Netanyahu “can no longer make excuses not to implement the agreement” to bring home the remaining 101 hostages, including the seven Americans taken to Gaza, on October 7, 2023.
In Israel, demonstrators took to the streets in large numbers on Sunday and a major labor strike broke out on Monday to protest against the failure to reach an agreement to free the hostages 11 months into the war.
