US presiden Biden sharply criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's policy in Gaza

US President Joe Biden sharply criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's policy in Gaza tonight (Wednesday). In an interview with the Univision network, the US President said that Netanyahu's policy in Gaza was wrong and that he does not agree with his approach. Biden also emphasized in the interview that Israel needs to reach a ceasefire.

The interview with President Biden was recorded last Wednesday, before the difficult conversation he had with Netanyahu and before the cabinet's decision to expand humanitarian aid to Gaza - and it was broadcast today.
In the meantime, United States Vice President Kamala Harris met yesterday with family members of American hostages who are held captive by Hamas in Gaza. During the conversation, she emphasized the importance of releasing the abductees in the eyes of the government, and updated her on the status of the efforts. This, while Hamas' answer regarding the talks in Cairo has not yet arrived.
The White House reported that during the conversation, Harris emphasized that the release of the hostages is a top priority for President Biden and her. Also, Harris told the families that the Biden administration is obligated to return, among other things, the abductees who died and whose bodies are held by Hamas in Gaza. Finally, the Vice President updated the families of the abductees on the status of American efforts to obtain a deal for the abductees, which will also lead to a ceasefire in Gaza.
In the evening, the cabinet discussed the issue of contacts for the abductee deal. Senior Israeli officials stated that no decisions are expected because Israel is still waiting for Hamas' answer on the issue.
Earlier, Hamas officially announced that it would discuss the latest offer it received from the Egyptian and Qatari mediators. "Even though we want to reach an agreement that will end the aggression, the Israeli position remains reluctant and does not respond to their demands," Hamas said.
White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said on the subject that he had spoken with the Prime Minister of Qatar, but he had not yet received an answer from Hamas. "I pressed him to put pressure on them to get an answer. We saw Israel willing to be flexible and what we heard from Hamas so far was not encouraging," he said.
The CIA chief's proposal presented in Cairo includes the release of 900 Palestinian prisoners - 200 more than the previous proposal which included the release of 700 prisoners. The proposal states that 100 prisoners out of the 900 will be those serving life sentences for murdering Israelis - the same number as included in the previous proposal. Senior Israeli officials stated that Israel demands a right of veto over the identity of the prisoners to be released, as well as the possibility of deporting prisoners who will be released abroad so that they do not return to the West Bank or Gaza.