Biden Calls for Increased Pressure from G20 Leaders on Hamas to Accept Ceasefire

The U.S. President has called on leaders of the G20 countries to increase pressure on the extremist group Hamas to reach an agreement with Israel in the final weeks of his administration. Joe Biden, who is in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for the G20 summit, stated in his opening remarks on Monday, November 19, "Hamas is still rejecting the agreement, and I urge all of you to increase pressure on this group." While Hamas is recognized as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the European Union, several G20 countries, such as China and Russia, maintain political relations with Hamas. Concurrently, the Israeli Prime Minister stated on Monday that Hamas is the only obstacle to an agreement for the release of Israeli hostages. Benjamin Netanyahu, in a speech to the Knesset, added that he is working "quietly" for the return of each hostage. He said, "The strategy for victory includes the freedom of our kidnapped people, which we will also achieve, and we hope to soon bring dozens of them home." Qatar announced that it is currently suspending mediation in the Gaza ceasefire negotiations. The Israeli national media network, Kan, reported that Mr. Netanyahu announced in a meeting of the Knesset's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission that his government would pay 5 million shekels (Israeli currency) for each hostage delivered by Palestinians in Gaza, and those who deliver the hostages would be granted protection under Israeli measures and relocated to another country to ensure their safety from potential Hamas retaliation in Gaza. According to Kan, Mahmoud Sanwar, brother of the killed Hamas leader Yahya Sanwar and a field commander of the group, rejected his brother's method of opposing a deal for Israeli hostages and conditioned any agreement on the end of the Israeli army's war in Gaza and the withdrawal of all Israeli soldiers from the strip. 97 Israelis among the 251 citizens abducted by Hamas 408 days ago during its surprise attack on southern Israel are still held by Hamas. Four other Israelis have been held by Hamas for ten years, bringing the total number of Israeli hostages in Gaza to 101. The Israeli army has assessed that at least half of the 101 hostages are alive but is also prepared to negotiate for the bodies of the deceased. Hezbollah announced that four other members of its media team were killed in the Israeli attack in Beirut that resulted in the death of Mohammed Afif, the group's senior spokesman. Mohammed Afif was killed on Sunday in an Israeli bombing in the "Ras al-Nab'a" area. He had stated in a press conference in Beirut last week that Hezbollah has rebuilt its strength and "will soon capture Israeli forces in Lebanon." An Israeli army spokesperson stated that Mohammed Afif joined other Hezbollah leaders who have been "punished for their actions" due to terrorist attacks against the people of Israel in recent months. The Lebanese government reported that 35 people were killed and 143 injured in Israeli bombings on Sunday. Najib Mikati, the Prime Minister of the interim Lebanese government, stated on Sunday that his government's response to a draft agreement recently provided by the U.S. is "positive," but there are still points that need further review. Barak Ravid, a reporter for the American Axios website and the Israeli Wall News, wrote on X that Amos Hochstein's return, the Biden administration's special envoy, to Lebanon has been postponed. He was supposed to return to Lebanon in the middle of this week. On the other hand, according to the New York Times, Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, agreed to a ceasefire in Lebanon based on UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the 34-day war between the Israeli army and Hezbollah 18 years ago. However, Hezbollah has not complied with important provisions of the agreement regarding the disarmament of southern Lebanon from weapons and militias, from the Litani River to the Israeli border. Hezbollah, another Iranian proxy in the region classified as a terrorist organization by the U.S., began a campaign of rocket and drone attacks on Israel one day after the extremist group Hamas attacked Israel. Until late September, Israel limited its responses in Lebanon, but from September 27, it expanded operations to strike Hezbollah with explosions and then sent its ground forces into Lebanon. Despite the deaths of nearly all of Hezbollah's main political and field leadership, the group continues its rocket and drone attacks on Israel. Israel claims that the number of Hezbollah attacks has apparently decreased slightly in recent days. Larijani in Lebanon: We are not looking to sabotage the U.S. ceasefire plan.