President Joe Biden has said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was not doing enough to secure a deal for the release of hostages held in Gaza by Hamas and the US was close to presenting a final proposal to negotiators working on a hostage and ceasefire agreement, Reuters reports.

Asked whether he thought Netanyahu was doing enough to reach a hostage deal, Biden said “No.” He did not elaborate on his remarks.

Asked if he was planning to present a final hostage deal to both sides this week, Biden told reporters: “We’re very close to that.”

“Hope springs eternal,” he added when asked whether a deal would be successful.

Biden said later in the evening that he plans to talk to Netanyahu “eventually” but did not specify a clear timeline when asked. Biden and Netanyahu have spoken several times amid Israel’s offensive in Gaza.

 Protesters raise their hands painted in red during a demonstration calling for the immediate return of hostages held in Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, near Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence in Jerusalem on Sept 2, 2024. — Reuters/Ronen Zvulun
Protesters raise their hands painted in red during a demonstration calling for the immediate return of hostages held in Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, near Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence in Jerusalem on Sept 2, 2024. — Reuters/Ronen Zvulun

Opinion

Geopolitical shift in ME

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A prolonged conflict will have far-reaching implications for regional geopolitics, sharpening the divisions among Gulf countries that are directly affected by the tensions.

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