In an interview on MSNBC’s The Last Word Thursday, President Joe Biden stated he began urging Israeli leaders to minimize civilian casualties in their response to Hamas shortly after the October 7 terrorist attacks. Biden recounted discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his visit to Israel about 10 days after the attacks.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that a "last-minute crisis" with Hamas is holding up the ceasefire agreement that would release hostages.
Ayman Mohyeldin of MSNBC has raised concerns over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s motivations in securing a recent ceasefire and hostage release agreement. On the network’s “Alex Wagner Tonight,” Mohyeldin suggested that Netanyahu may have delayed the deal intentionally, positioning it for strategic leverage with the Trump administration, rather than aiding U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris in building political momentum during an election year.
Hamas leader Khalil al-Haya reportedly pledged another attack similar to the October 7 massacre during a press conference Wednesday, shortly after a tentative ceasefire agreement was announced.
Hamas has agreed to a proposed ceasefire draft and the release of dozens of hostages as negotiations with Israel progress, according to officials involved in the talks.
Efforts to secure a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza have seen limited progress, according to Palestinian sources involved in the negotiations.
The House of Representatives voted Thursday to approve the "Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act," a measure sanctioning the International Criminal Court (ICC) in response to its arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant.
