Israel’s government is under increasing pressure at home and abroad to reach a broad ceasefire agreement
Biden administration officials told NBC News that they have discussed a potential deal with Hamas that would see the release of five Americans currently held hostage in Gaza if ceasefire talks involving Israel break down.
The report, coming after an Israeli operation that rescued four hostages but, according to Gaza authorities, killed at least 274 Palestinians, is a sign of Biden’s increasing frustration towards an Israeli government that has repeatedly scuppered ceasefire proposals over the past several months.
When asked by Time magazine about Israel’s invasion of Gaza earlier in June, Biden said that “there is every reason” to believe that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is prolonging the war for his own political benefit. In a meeting with the family members of hostages, Israeli security officials reportedly told them that Netanyahu would not countenance a hostage release deal unless it polled well for him.
