Biden claims Netanyahu not doing enough to secure deal with terrorists
President Biden claimed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not doing enough to secure a hostage deal with Hamas terrorists.
Biden made the remarks to reporters before heading into the Situation Room, where he and Vice President Harris are convening with a hostage deal negotiating team following the murder of 23-year-old Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin and five other hostages by Hamas on Saturday.
On the South Lawn of the White House, where Biden disembarked from Marine One upon returning from his vacation home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, one reporter asked, "Mr. President, do you think it’s time for Prime Minister Netanyahu to do more on this issue? Do you think he is doing enough?
"No," the president responded flatly.
FATHER OF ISRAELI-AMERICAN HOSTAGE PLEADS FOR DEAL 'WITH SATAN' BEFORE BIDEN, HARRIS ENTER SITUATION ROOM
Asked what makes him think this deal will be successful in a way that the other proposals were not, Biden said, "Hope springs eternal." The president said "we're very close" to being able to present a final hostage deal. He told reporters he was headed into a national security meeting and would be going to Pittsburg later in the day.
"Yes. I have spoken to the American hostage … I spoke to his mom and dad, and we are not giving up. We are going to continue to push as hard as we can. Thank you," Biden said.
Earlier Monday, 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 Satan."
NETANYAHU MOURNS DEATHS OF SIX HOSTAGES RECOVERED IN GAZA, VOWS TO 'SETTLE ACCOUNTS' WITH HAMAS
Dekel-Chen, appearing on "Fox & Friends," acknowledged that the United States together with Qatar and Egypt are trying to