Gaza hostage deal is very close, says Biden

President Joe Biden has stated that the United States is on the verge of proposing a new hostage deal to Israel and Hamas, which could be the final offer in ongoing negotiations. The comments came after a meeting with negotiators in the Situation Room, where Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris focused on efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages held by Hamas.

In his remarks, Biden expressed criticism towards Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, suggesting that he wasn’t doing enough to secure a deal. Reports from the Washington Post indicated that the latest US proposal has been categorized as a "take it or leave it" deal. This development follows Israel's recovery of the bodies of six hostages in Gaza, sparking widespread protests in Israel against Netanyahu's handling of the war and hostage situation. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan also met with US families of the remaining hostages, informing them that Biden would present a "final" proposal for a hostage release and ceasefire later in the week. The family of Edan Alexander, an Israeli military member still held hostage in Gaza, has urged Israel to accept the deal, calling it a "now or never" situation. Adi Alexander, Edan's father, praised the US for its dedication but urged for different actions, criticizing Netanyahu for prolonging the conflict for political gain.

Biden reaffirmed the US's commitment to securing a deal, stating that they would continue to push as hard as possible. Despite concerns that the deaths of the six hostages might derail negotiations, US officials believe it adds urgency to the final stages of the process. The US, along with Qatar and Egypt, has been working for months to secure a ceasefire and the release of hostages, with frustrations growing over both Hamas's and Netanyahu's roles in delaying a deal. The ongoing conflict in Gaza, which began after Hamas breached the border on October 7, has had significant political implications for the Biden administration, especially with the upcoming US presidential election. Pro-Palestinian factions within the Democratic Party have been pushing for a ceasefire, while Biden’s and Harris’s opponents, particularly Donald Trump, have criticized their handling of the situation.