JERUSALEM — President Biden’s succinct “no” in response to whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was doing enough to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas has ignited significant controversy.
The terse answer was given on Monday as Biden entered the Situation Room, where he, alongside Vice President Harris, met with a negotiating team focused on a potential hostage deal. This meeting followed the tragic death of 23-year-old Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin and five other hostages at the hands of Hamas on Saturday.
Netanyahu has firmly rejected any suggestion that he or his government is to blame for the hostages’ deaths. He stated, “We were very close to securing their release. It’s devastating, but the inability to save them wasn’t due to a decision of ours.”
BIDEN ACCUSES NETANYAHU OF INSUFFICIENT EFFORT ON HOSTAGE DEAL
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Biden (Getty Images)
Netanyahu explained that the Israeli Cabinet’s strategy includes maintaining the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) presence along the Philadelphi Corridor. This 8.7-mile strip, located along the border between Egypt and Gaza, has been a critical area for arms smuggling by Hamas.
“The issue,” Netanyahu said, “is that Hamas does not want to reach a deal. We are exploring every possible avenue to bring the hostages home.”
In a briefing on Tuesday, Fox News Senior White House correspondent Peter Doocy questioned why Biden seemed more critical of Netanyahu than of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre responded, emphasizing that the president’s stance on Hamas has been unequivocal. “The president has been very clear about the actions of Hamas leaders. He answered the question directly, and Hamas is responsible for the violence. They have American blood on their hands,” Jean-Pierre explained.
The recent funeral of Almog Sarusi, a 26-year-old sound and light technician abducted by Hamas from the Nova Music Festival, drew thousands of mourners in Ra’anana. Sarusi’s body, along with those of five other hostages, was recovered by Israeli forces.
Caroline Glick, a former adviser to Netanyahu and a columnist, criticized U.S. policy, accusing the U.S. of focusing pressure solely on Israel. Glick argued that if the U.S. had allowed Israel to enforce a siege on Gaza and pressured Egypt to either shelter Gazans or facilitate their exit through Egypt, the conflict might have been resolved sooner. Instead, she claimed that U.S. demands for continued humanitarian aid to Gaza have inadvertently supported Hamas by allowing them to retain power.
Glick also argued that U.S. pressure for a hostage deal is misdirected. “The pressure isn’t aimed at Hamas, who are holding the hostages and, as we saw, have executed them. It is directed solely at Israel. The Biden administration’s push for a deal seems focused on negotiating the release of a fraction of the hostages in exchange for a complete cessation of the war, while leaving Hamas in control of Gaza and capable of rebuilding its terror capabilities,” Glick said.
ISRAEL RECOVERS SIX DEAD HOSTAGES IN ‘COMPLEX OPERATION’
Jonathan Polin and Rachel Goldberg, parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, at his funeral in Jerusalem on September 2, 2024.
While some media reports claimed that up to 300,000 people protested in Tel Aviv on Sunday demanding Netanyahu secure a deal with Hamas for the hostages’ release, Israeli police estimated the number at around 80,000. On Monday, the Histadrut labor federation led a general strike, aiming to pressure Netanyahu into halting the war against Hamas and focusing on releasing the remaining hostages.
However, the general strike and protests have not led to significant political upheaval or forced Netanyahu into a deal that he believes compromises Israel’s security.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken indicated that Netanyahu had agreed to a cease-fire and a hostage deal two weeks ago, but Hamas disrupted the agreement. Many in Israel and terrorism experts believe that Western powers, including the U.S., are not applying sufficient pressure on Hamas and its supporter, Qatar, to facilitate the hostages’ release.
NETANYAHU MOURNS DEATHS OF HOSTAGES RECOVERED IN GAZA
Israeli tanks at a staging area near the Gaza border on June 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
David Friedman, former U.S. Ambassador to Israel, criticized Biden for directing criticism at Netanyahu during a time of mourning for the hostages. “On a day when Israel is grieving for its murdered hostages, Biden should be directing his criticism at Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran, rather than at Israel’s democratically elected leader,” Friedman stated. He accused the Biden administration of repeatedly misjudging the conflict and of attempting to isolate Israel by placing blame on Netanyahu.
The focus on freeing the hostages remains a priority for both Netanyahu and the Biden administrations. However, there is significant debate over whether enough is being done to secure their release.
Aviva Siegel, a former Hamas hostage whose 65-year-old American husband Keith is still held by Hamas, criticized the Israeli government’s efforts. Siegel, who endured 51 days in captivity, described the conditions as “brutal,” with inadequate food and water. “I want Keith back alive. The hostages don’t deserve to be in such dire conditions. The world needs to wake up,” she implored.
FORMER OFFICIALS DEFEND BIDEN’S POSITION
Joel Rubin, a former deputy assistant secretary of state, defended Biden’s position, highlighting the president’s consistent support for Israel. Rubin suggested that Biden’s call for a hostage deal reflects a belief that the risks involved are manageable. “Israel’s security establishment and its negotiators agree that now is the right time for a bold decision to finalize a deal. The recent brutal murders by Hamas reaffirm their nature as a terrorist organization willing to commit atrocities,” Rubin said.
Rubin underscored that negotiating a deal should not be viewed as a concession to Hamas but as a crucial step to guarantee the safety of hostages and bolster both global and Israeli security. “A well-crafted diplomatic agreement could secure the return of kidnapped Israelis, Americans, and other nationals. This would represent a major accomplishment for Israel and the international community,” he stated.
As the situation remains precarious, efforts to find a resolution continue, with ongoing discussions about the most effective strategies to ensure the hostages’ release while addressing the broader conflict.