Biden, Harris discuss 'next steps' in hostage release efforts in Situation Room meeting

By Servet Gunerigok

WASHINGTON (AA) - US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday met with US negotiators of the Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal at the White House, during which they discussed "next steps" in the ongoing efforts, said a statement.

The meeting at White House Situation Room came after following recovery of the bodies of American Hersh Goldberg-Polin and five other hostages in Gaza, which prompted protests against Netanyahu government this weekend.

In the statement, the presidential mansion said Biden "expressed his devastation and outrage at the murder, and reaffirmed the importance of holding Hamas’s leaders accountable".

According to the statement, Biden and Harris received an update from the American negotiation team "on the status of the bridging proposal" outlined by the US, Qatar, and Egypt.

"They discussed next steps in the ongoing effort to secure the release of hostages, including continuing consultations with co-mediators Qatar and Egypt," it added.

During the meeting, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, CIA Director Bill Burns and Jake Sullivan, Biden's national security adviser, were present, among others.

Earlier, the US president told reporters that he does not think Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is doing enough to secure a hostage deal with Hamas.

His remarks came in response to a reporter during his arrival at the White House.

The US president also said he believed a final deal for the release of hostages held by the Palestinian group is "very close."

Israel estimates that more than 100 hostages are still being held by the Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza, some of whom are believed to have been already killed.

For months, the US, Qatar, and Egypt have been trying to reach an agreement between Israel and Hamas to ensure a prisoner exchange and a cease-fire and allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza. But mediation efforts have been stalled due to Netanyahu’s refusal to meet Hamas’ demands to stop the war.

Israel’s ongoing war on the Gaza Strip has killed more than 40,700 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured over 94,100 others, according to local health authorities.

An ongoing blockade of the enclave has led to severe shortages of food, clean water and medicine, leaving much of the region in ruins.

Israel faces accusations of genocide for its actions in Gaza at the International Court of Justice.