President Biden said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not doing enough to reach a hostage deal with Hamas militants.
Biden made the remarks to reporters before heading to the Situation Room, where he and Vice President Harris are meeting with a hostage deal negotiating team following the killing 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, a reporter asked: “Mr. President, do you think it's time for Prime Minister Netanyahu to do more on this issue? Do you think he's doing enough?”
“No,” the president replied flatly.
FATHER OF ISRAELI-AMERICAN HOSTAGE CALLS FOR DEAL 'WITH SATAN' BEFORE BIDEN AND HARRIS ENTER SITUATION ROOM
The White House released a photo of President Biden in the Situation Room. (White House)
Asked what makes him think this deal will succeed in a way the other proposals haven't, Biden said early Monday: “Hope is the last thing you lose.” The president said “we're very close” to being able to present a final deal on the hostages. He told reporters he was heading to a national security meeting and would travel to Pittsburgh later in the day.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Vice President Harris in the situation room. (Office of the Vice President)
“Yes. I've spoken to the American hostage… I've spoken to his mother and father, and we will not give up. We're going to continue to push with all our might. Thank you,” Biden said.
Earlier on Monday, Jonathan Dekel-Chen, the father of an Israeli-American hostage still being held by Hamas, called on the United States and Israel to negotiate a deal “with Satan.”
NETANYAHU MOURNS THE DEATH OF SIX HOSTAGES RECOVERED IN GAZA AND PROMISES TO 'SETTLE ACCOUNTS' WITH HAMAS
President Joe Biden walks from Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House, Monday, Sept. 2, 2024, in Washington, after returning from Rehoboth Beach, Del. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Dekel-Chen, who appeared on “Fox & Friends,” acknowledged that the The United States together with Qatar and Egypt are trying to broker a deal between Israel and “a savage terrorist organisation” but insisted that Israeli intelligence shows Hamas forces are exhausted at this stage.
President Biden speaks to reporters on the South Lawn of the White House, Monday, Sept. 2, 2024, in Washington, after returning from Rehoboth Beach, Del. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
He said Netanyahu cannot offer “one more excuse not to complete this deal” to bring home the remaining 101 hostages, including seven Americans, taken in Gaza on October 7, 2023.
Israel witnessed a massive labor strike on Monday after demonstrators took to the streets en masse on Sunday to protest the failure of Israel's leadership to reach a deal to release hostages 11 months after the start of the war.
