The United States said Tuesday it was time to “finalise” a deal between Israel and Hamas to end the Gaza war, after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s refusal to bow to pressure.
US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller spoke a day after Netanyahu doubled down despite domestic and international pressure following the recovery by Israel’s military of six killed hostages from the war-ravaged Palestinian territory.
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“There are dozens of hostages still remaining in Gaza, still waiting for a deal that will bring them home. It is time to finalise that deal,” Miller said.
“The people of Israel cannot afford to wait any longer. The Palestinian people, who are also suffering the terrible effects of this war, cannot afford to wait any longer. The world cannot afford to wait any longer.”
Miller said Washington would work “over the coming days” with fellow mediators Egypt and Qatar “to push for a final agreement”.
John Kirby, the US National Security Council spokesman, echoed this sentiment, saying, “we believe we can close this” truce deal.
Despite increasing grief and fury among Israelis, who have taken to the streets to pressure the government, Netanyahu said he would “not give in to pressure” during indirect negotiations with Hamas.
The military said it recovered six hostages who were captured alive during Hamas’s October 7 attack but were found shot dead shortly before their discovery.
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UN human rights chief Volker Turk called for an “independent, impartial and transparent investigation” into reports they were summarily executed.
US President Joe Biden, meeting with negotiators, replied “no” when asked if he thought Netanyahu was doing enough to secure a hostage deal.
Netanyahu, whose ruling coalition relies on the support of far-right ministers who oppose a truce, said Hamas’s refusal to make concessions was the real obstacle.
