Protests in cities across Israel sparked up after the bodies of six hostages were found in an underground tunnel in Rafah, upsetting many that a ceasefire had not been struck.
President Biden and Vice President Harris plan to meet in the White House Situation Room on Monday, along with the U.S. hostage deal negotiating team after the murder of six hostages, including American citizen Hersh Goldberg-Polin, by Hamas on Saturday.
The White House said the focus of the meeting is to discuss efforts to drive toward a deal that secures the release of the remaining hostages. The meeting is also closed to the press.
Mobs of protesters took to the streets in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and other cities Sunday after the bodies of the hostages in Gaza were returned to Israel, fueling frustration and anger toward the country’s leadership for failing to achieve a ceasefire deal freeing the remaining hostages.
Israeli media reported that the crowds of protesters were estimated to be up to 500,000 in major Israeli cities. Many of the protesters demanded Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu do more to bring home the remaining 101 hostages.
Reuters reported that Israel’s leadership estimates nearly a third of the remaining hostages are dead.
