Staff Reports
In a recent phone call between President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden urged Netanyahu to temporarily halt Israel’s military operation targeting Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip. The purpose of this pause, as described by Biden, is to secure the release of Israeli hostages captured by Hamas during a terrorist attack last month. This idea, reportedly brokered by Qatar, involves Hamas taking responsibility for all the hostages it has under its custody.
Under this arrangement, fighting would cease for three days, and Hamas would disclose the identities of its prisoners to the United States and Israel. However, Netanyahu expressed his doubts about Hamas’ intentions, suspecting that the group would use the pause to launch further attacks on Israeli soldiers. In an interview with ABC News, Netanyahu made it clear that he would not agree to a general cease-fire, as it would be seen as a surrender to Hamas.
EXCLUSIVE: @DavidMuir interviews Israeli PM Netanyahu, pressing him on the Biden administration’s calls for a humanitarian pause in Gaza as the death toll climbs; if he bears responsibility for intelligence failures on Oct. 7; and more. https://t.co/zjSKIi5FJF pic.twitter.com/LydTy5XtZf
— World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) November 7, 2023
Netanyahu remained open to limited pauses in fighting, allowing for the liberation of individual hostages or the delivery of humanitarian goods. However, he emphasized that there would be no general cease-fire without the release of all Israeli hostages. Israeli officials estimate that there are currently 241 individuals held captive by Hamas and other terrorist groups in Gaza.
While Biden’s suggestion may have been well-intentioned, Netanyahu’s concerns about Hamas’ true intentions highlight the complexity of the situation. It remains to be seen how this delicate balancing act between pursuing a cease-fire and safeguarding Israel’s security will play out.
