STRATEGIC ASSESSMENT. President Biden said that Netanyahu was not doing enough to secure a deal for the release of hostages held in Gaza by Hamas and the United States was close to presenting a final proposal to negotiators working on a hostage and ceasefire agreement.
Netanyahu has rejected calls to soften his demand to keep troops in the southern Gazan area bordering Egypt as the price for a ceasefire deal, saying it was vital for Israel to control a key lifeline for Hamas. The issue of the so-called Philadelphia corridor has been a major sticking point in efforts to secure a deal. Hamas has rejected any Israeli presence, while Netanyahu has insisted that Israel will not abandon the corridor, where Israeli troops have uncovered dozens of tunnels.
The US has charged Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and several other prominent figures in the Palestinian group in connection with its deadly attack in Israel on 7 October last year. The justice department said it was indicting six Hamas members with seven charges, including the murder of dozens of US citizens, conspiracy to finance terrorism and use of weapons of mass destruction. The criminal complaint covers decades of alleged attacks by Hamas, as well as last October’s unprecedented assault.
The United States intends to present a final version of a cease-fire agreement in the Gaza Strip in the coming weeks. If it is not accepted, it could mean the end of the United States’ role in peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian movement Hamas. The Washington Post reported that the United States was in talks with Egypt and Qatar about the details of a final “take it or leave it” agreement, citing an unnamed senior official in President Joe Biden’s administration. If both sides refuse to accept it, the U.S.-led negotiations may come to an end, according to the newspaper.
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris said “I’m unequivocal and unwavering in my commitment to Israel’s defense and its ability to defend itself, and that’s not going to change,” Harris said during her first interview since she became the Democratic nominee for president. Pressed on whether she would support a change in U.S. policy that would affect military assistance, Harris said simply: “No.”
Joe Biden has said Benjamin Netanyahu is not doing enough to secure a hostage deal and ceasefire with Hamas, amid reports suggesting a new proposal would be sent to the Israeli prime minister as “final”. The US president and Kamala Harris, his vice-president, met negotiators in the Situation Room to hammer out a proposal, as protests engulfed Israel over the weekend deaths of six hostages in Gaza. Asked whether Mr Netanyahu was doing enough, Mr Biden replied “no”. He added that the US would not give up, and would “push as hard as we can” for a deal.
The United States has announced new sanctions against extremist settlers in the West Bank who are funded by the Israeli government, stepping up efforts to stem escalating settlement violence. According to Department of State spokesman Matthew Miller, the group targeted was Hashomer Yosh, which provides security for illegal settler outposts, some of which are sanctioned by the United States.
Israeli forces launched a large operation in the occupied West Bank killing at least 10 Hamas militants, carrying out arrests and sealing off the volatile city of Jenin. The ongoing operation was among the largest in the West Bank in months, and a reminder that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict extends far beyond the war in Gaza that began with Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack. Israel says it is rooting out West Bank militants to prevent attacks, while Palestinians fear it intends to broaden the war and expel them from territories they want for a future state.
