From the Liveblog of
Monday, March 18, 2024
US to keep pressing for hostage deal, not enough international pressure applied to Hamas
Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief
US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan acknowledges that the effort to secure an extended truce between Israel and Hamas through a hostage deal “has been more elusive than we would have hoped,” but insists that the Biden administration “will keep pressing because we regard this as an urgent priority.”
US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed the ongoing talks during their call earlier today, Sullivan says during a press briefing, explaining that a deal would be the most effective way to surge humanitarian aid into Gaza.
The national security adviser reiterates the US belief that Hamas could end the conflict today if it agreed to surrender. “Far too little of the energy and the pressure to end this conflict has been applied to Hamas. We will keep pointing that out,” he adds.
