Biden accuses Israeli PM of not doing enough to free hostages // Nobody is going to lecture me on this matter.the ruler retorts
▲ Funeral in Jerusalem of Hersh Goldbert-Polin, held hostage by Hamas since October 7.Photo Ap
AFP, AP, Europa Press and Reuters
The newspaper La Jornada
Tuesday, September 3, 2024, p. 21
Jerusalem. A general strike in Israel in protest over the failure to bring back hostages in Gaza sparked lockdowns and mass demonstrations across the country on Monday, while US President Joe Biden added to the pressure by saying Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was not doing enough to reach a ceasefire agreement and warned that Hamas leaders would pay for killing six captives whose remains were recovered over the weekend.
Netanyahu said the offensive would force the fighters to give in to Israeli demands, facilitate hostage rescue operations and ultimately annihilate the group.
But his main ally, the United States, is beginning to grow impatient. Biden spoke to reporters upon his arrival at the White House for a meeting with advisers involved in negotiating a deal. Asked if Netanyahu was doing enough, Biden replied: No.
However, he commented that Hope is the last thing to be lost.
Indignation in Washington
Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris also met with the U.S. team of negotiators with whom they discussed the next steps in efforts to free the captives. The president expressed his indignation for the hostage killings.
Biden’s new criticism of Netanyahu comes as he and Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, face growing demands to take steps to end the nearly 11-month war in Gaza.
The conflict has sown divisions among Democrats, with many progressives pushing Biden to restrict or at least put conditions on arms supplies to Israel, Washington’s main ally in the Middle East.
Israeli sources commented that it is amazing Biden should put pressure on Netanyahu, not Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said Biden’s criticism is US recognition that Netanyahu is responsible for undermining efforts to reach an agreement.
The strike, which affected much of the economy, ended after the Labour Court ordered it to be suspended at 2:30 p.m., considering it to be politically motivated.
Numerous roadblocks were reported, activities at Ben Gurion International Airport, universities and banks were suspended, hospitals operated on reduced weekend hours, and tens of thousands again took to the streets.
Protesters gathered outside the prime minister’s official residence in Jerusalem, where at least 10 people were arrested, and at Netanyahu’s home in Caesarea.
Meanwhile, thousands of mourners attended the funeral in Jerusalem of US-Israeli hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, whose body was recovered in Gaza on Sunday, along with those of Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi and Ori Danino.
Goldberg-Polin, 23, one of the most recognizable faces among the hostages, immigrated to Israel from California at age seven and was at the Nova music festival celebrating her birthday when the Hamas attack took place.
Videos released by the Islamist organization showed attackers throwing grenades at the shelter where Hersh was staying with others, then he was seen being loaded into a van with an injured arm, and finally in April he appeared in a new recording in which he addressed Netanyahu and his family.
I feel like it was like a symbol for the hostages.Amnon Sadovsky, a 70-year-old professor, told Reuters at the funeral. We need humanity for Jews and Arabs.
He apologizes to the families
Netanyahu asked sorry to the relatives of the hostages found dead on Sunday, but maintained its position of not giving in, after assuring that Hamas had taken them executed with a shot to the back of the neck.
In a speech that the Hostage Families Forum described as full of liesNetanyahu said he would insist on control of the Philadelphia corridor, a strip along Gaza’s border with Egypt that Israel says is used by Hamas to smuggle weapons into the enclave, something Egypt and Hamas deny.
The ruler demonstrated who has no intention of bringing back the captivesthe Forum lamented.
No one is more committed to the release of the hostages than I am, and no one is going to lecture me on this matter.Netanyahu retorted.
Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, the far-right, stressed that his party uses his power in government to prevent a reckless deal with Hamas. The politician advocates the military route rather than any pact. With Hamas you only have to talk through the sights of the gunBen Gvir stressed, according to The Times of Israel.
Meanwhile, Hamas armed wing spokesman Abu Ubaida threatened that the Israeli hostages would return in coffins if Tel Aviv maintains its offensive.
Ubaida said the group had issued new instructions in June on how to handle hostages if Israeli forces approached its positions in Gaza, following a rescue operation by Israel in which it freed four captives after killing dozens of Palestinians, including women and children.
Ubaida said Hamas holds Israel responsible for the six recent deaths.
Netanyahu’s insistence on releasing prisoners through military pressure, rather than sealing a deal, means they will be returned to their families wrapped in blankets. Their families must choose whether they want them dead or alive.he said.
Yesterday, Hamas released a 45-second video showing the six hostages presenting themselves on camera, and said that In the next few hours they will reveal their last messagesreported The Jerusalem Post.