In collaboration with Qatar and Egypt the USA they are preparing a “take it or leave it” truce proposal to Gauzewhich they will present at Israel and in Hamas in the coming weeks.

If the two sides reject the proposal, it could signal the end of the negotiating effort on the U.S. side, a senior administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to The Washington Post, said.

Biden administration officials cited by the US media said it was unclear whether the discovery of the bodies of the six hostages, which increased the pressure to Netanyahu, would make it more or less likely that Israel and Hamas will reach an agreement in the coming weeks.

According to the Israeli military, the six hostages were killed by their captors “shortly before” they were discovered.

The senior US administration official said the US has a similar assessment, believing all six hostages were shot in the head and executed shortly before their bodies were discovered.

Biden – Harris meet negotiators

Joe Biden and Kamal Harris are expected to meet today with American negotiators working to free the hostages, after the Israeli army found the bodies of six hostages in Gaza, including an American citizen.

The meeting will take place at the White House in Washington. Vice President Kamala Harris, who will run in November’s presidential election, will also participate.

The statement issued for the meeting states that Biden and Harris will meet today with “the US team negotiating a hostage deal following the killing of US citizen Hersh Goldberg-Paulin and five other hostages by Hamas and discuss the efforts to reach an agreement that would ensure the release of the remaining hostages.”

The discovery of the six dead hostages in the Hamas tunnels sparked strong reactions in Israel, with the families of the dead blaming the Benjamin Netanyahu for delay and delay in signing an agreement for the release of the prisoners.

“A deal to return the hostages has been on the table for over 2 months. If it weren’t for the delays, the sabotage and the excuses, those we learned died would probably still be alive. The delay in signing the agreement led to their deaths,” the Hostage Families Forum said in a statement.

“It is time to bring our hostages back home so we can help the living recover and give the dead the burial they deserve,” the Forum continued in its statement.

After the outburst of rage the citizens of Israel are today called to take part en masse in a “general strike”, to force the government to sign a ceasefire agreement and release the hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. From 06:00 (local and Greek time), “the entire Israeli economy will be in a general strike,” the head of the powerful Central Confederation of Labor Unions, Arnon Bar David, said yesterday, as “we must succeed in ending this abandonment of hostages”.

Yesterday, hundreds of thousands of Israelis – as many as half a million, according to media estimates – demonstrated in various cities to demand, once again, that an agreement be made for the release of the hostages. In Tel Aviv, protesters blocked a highway. Television networks broadcast footage of police using water cannons against protesters. The authorities spoke of 29 arrests.

Anger at the White House

The White House announced yesterday that one of the bodies recovered from Gaza belongs to American citizen Herce Goldberg-Paulin.

“I am devastated and outraged,” said Joe Biden. “Hers was among the innocents brutally attacked while attending a peace music festival in Israel on October 7. He lost his hand helping friends and strangers during the brutal slaughter of Hamas.”

“It is both tragic and reprehensible,” he said. “Make no mistake, the leaders of Hamas will pay for these crimes. And we will continue to work around the clock for an agreement to secure the release of the remaining hostages.”

Biden said he “worked tirelessly to bring their beloved Hearst home safely.” “I am devastated by the news of his death.”

Netanyahu is unmoved

However, Benjamin Netanyahu appears to remain unmoved in his tough stance, declaring on Sunday that Israel will not rest until it arrests those responsible for the murder of the 6 hostages.

Netanyahu, in a statement, said Israel was committed to reaching an agreement to free the hostages and ensure Israel’s security.

“Anyone who murders hostages does not want an agreement,” he said characteristically.

“Along with all the citizens of Israel, I am shocked to the core by the terrible cold-blooded killing of six of the hostages,” Netanyahu said, expressing his “deep appreciation” for the IDF and Shin security service fighters Beth “who are risking their lives for the return of our sons and daughters.”

“I say to the Hamas terrorists who murdered our abductees and I say to their leaders – you have lost your lives. We will not be quiet and we will not be silent. We will hunt you down, catch you and bring you to account,” Netanyahu threatened.

“Since December, Hamas has refused to hold real negotiations. Three months ago, on May 27, Israel agreed to a hostage release deal with the full support of the United States. Hamas refused. Even after the United States updated the framework of the agreement on August 16, we agreed and Hamas refused again,” Netanyahu states — claiming that even now, “while Israel is conducting intensive negotiations with mediators in a supreme effort to reach an agreement , Hamas continues to strongly reject any offer.”

Nevertheless, “the Israeli government is committed, and I personally am committed, to continue to pursue an agreement that will return all of our hostages and guarantee our security and our existence,” Netanyahu said.

The developments brought a new rift between Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallad.

According to Israeli press reports, Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly told Yoav Gallad on Thursday that he prioritized his stance to keep Israeli troops in the Philadelphia Corridor over saving the lives of the remaining hostages in Gaza.