Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Monday, December 2, 2024
From the Liveblog of
Monday, December 2, 2024
White House says no update on hostage-truce deal, Hamas still ‘main stumbling block’
Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief
White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby speaks at the daily briefing at the White House in Washington, October 23, 2024. (AP/ Ben Curtis)
White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby says there is no update to offer regarding efforts to secure a hostage release and ceasefire deal in Gaza.
He insists that the Biden administration is continuing to work on the issue, but that Hamas remains “the main stumbling block.”
Kirby says Hamas should now feel isolated, following the ceasefire deal in Lebanon, and that its leaders should agree to a deal to end the war. For his part, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that, even in exchange for the release of all remaining hostages, Israel will not agree to end the war permanently.
