Israeli public harming hostage deal chances by pressuring Netanyahu, official says

WASHINGTON — The Israeli public’s pressure for a hostage deal has been one-sided, directed only at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and “is harming chances for an agreement with Hamas,” an Israeli official tells reporters in a briefing.

The official denies that Netanyahu has added any of his demands in the negotiations, though the text of Israel’s May proposal obtained by The Times of Israel indicates otherwise.

The official also says Netanyahu wanted Israel’s hostage negotiating team to depart for talks with mediators in Doha on Friday. However, it will likely be delayed for logistical reasons and issues beyond Israel’s control.

The hostage release and ceasefire agreement was the overwhelming focus of Netanyahu’s meeting with US President Joe Biden, the official says.

The families of American hostages being held in Gaza then joined the leaders after an hour and a half, the Israeli official says

Netanyahu told the hostage families that the US and Israeli positions are aligned and that Israel is taking steps that improve the chances for the deal to be implemented.

The official claims Netanyahu is working to maximize the number of living hostages who can be released in the first stage of the deal and confirms that Jerusalem will be transferring an updated Israeli proposal in the coming days.

The meeting with the hostage families was very moving, the Israeli official says, adding that the relatives are enduring unimaginable suffering and that he doesn’t judge people under such distress, even though they made very serious charges against him throughout the sit-down.