Hamas vows to kill hostages at ‘risk’ of rescue, and Biden ups his presure on Israel
Hamas has now basically admitted it killed those six hostages rather than risk their liberation — indeed, all but boasted of it.
Meanwhile, the Harris-Biden administration seems to be taking the tragedy as license to push Israel into a cease-fire deal that could let the terrorists re-supply.
Asked by a reporter Monday if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had done enough to secure a hostage deal, Biden gave a flat “No” while claiming “we’re very close” to proposing another hostage deal this week, and “Hope springs eternal.”
Hamas refused to accept the last cease-fire offer, even as Netanyahu was signaling (some) willingness to bend on the crucial question of the Philadephi corridor: Who is to control the Gaza-Egyptian border during any ceasefire?
Cairo, it turns out, had let the area be riddled with smuggling tunnels on its watch, so Bibi is reluctant to let the IDF cede control even temporarily now — lest Hamas take the opportunity to re-arm and/or get its top leaders out of Dodge.
We doubt Biden or Kamala Harris is willing to send in US forces to do the job, so slamming Bibi as the prez did is tantamount to saying that Israel must give Hamas a lifeline to get the remaining hostages freed.
Maybe that’s what Israel should do, but Washington pushing Jerusalem to bend is pretty rank — especially when Biden’s motive is fundamentally selfish: He wants a ceasefire in place to cement his own legacy, and to boost Harris’ chances in November.
And this is after Harris-Biden pushed Israel to hold off on operations that could’ve freed hostages weeks or months ago.
Especially when Hamas now brags it’ll kill hostages rather than let them be rescued.
Israel faces its own divisions on these questions; an American leader determined to be a true ally wouldn’t be stirring the pot purely to serve his own domestic political aims.
But, plainly, that’s not how Biden or Harris rolls.
