Biden Says Netanyahu "Not Doing Enough" to Bring Hamas Hostages Home

United States President Joe Biden said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not doing enough to reach a deal to free hostages in Gaza along with a ceasefire in its war with Hamas.

Biden spoke to reporters two days after six hostages, including one Israeli-American, were found after being killed by Hamas. Asked about progress toward a ceasefire, Biden responded, “We’re negotiating." When asked about the hostages being held by Hamas, he reiterated, “We’re in the middle of negotiations.”

Israel’s largest trade union, the Histadrut, called for the general strike, the first since the start of the war. It aimed to shut down or disrupt major sectors of the economy, including banking, health care and the country’s main airport. But a court ruled it had to end early after the government called the strike politically motivated.

Hundreds of thousands of Israelis poured into the streets Sunday in grief and anger after six hostages were found dead in Gaza. The families and much of the public blamed Netanyahu, saying they could have been returned alive in a deal with Hamas to end the nearly 11-month-old war.

But others support Netanyahu’s strategy of maintaining military pressure on Hamas, whose October 7 attack into Israel triggered the war. They say it will force the militants to give in to Israeli demands and ultimately annihilate the group.