Rising Pressures on Netanyahu Ahead of Washington Visit

World leaders are intensifying their calls for a cease-fire agreement, as protests erupt across Israel. The families of hostages taken by Hamas are urgently pleading with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to negotiate a deal for their safe return. As the situation escalates, Netanyahu faces mounting pressures ahead of his highly anticipated visit to Washington next week.

This visit is set against a backdrop of a divided Congress, where Netanyahu’s address is expected to be contentious, particularly if he is unable to secure a deal with Hamas to end the ongoing conflict before his arrival.

On Thursday, Netanyahu visited Israeli troops stationed in Gaza, close to the border with Egypt. During this visit, he assured the soldiers that the sustained military pressure on Hamas was playing a crucial role in advancing negotiations for the hostages’ release. He stated, “This military strategy, combined with our unwavering insistence on just demands, is moving us closer to a possible hostage deal.”

Yair Lapid, the leader of Israel’s parliamentary opposition, has been vocal in his criticism, urging Netanyahu to postpone his speech to Congress scheduled for July 24 unless he can announce a tangible agreement. Lapid emphasized, “He must declare a hostage deal without concocting conditions or introducing new obstacles every ten minutes,” referencing reports that Netanyahu has complicated negotiations by imposing terms that Hamas is likely to reject.

Negotiations are currently underway in Qatar and Egypt, where mediators are working to establish a framework for a deal. This potential agreement aims to halt the fighting and facilitate the return of approximately 120 hostages, though the exact number of those still alive remains uncertain. The terms of the deal are still being discussed and may involve various concessions from both sides.