US President Joe Biden stated today, Monday, that negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza and a prisoner exchange deal are still ongoing, but he clarified that these negotiations are not with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Biden confirmed that he is negotiating with his partners and with Egypt and Qatar, and not with Netanyahu.

Earlier, after the discovery of the bodies of six Israeli captives, including an American, Biden expressed his dissatisfaction with Netanyahu's handling of the prisoner exchange issue, pointing out that the Israeli Prime Minister "is not making enough effort" to reach an agreement with Hamas.

These statements sparked widespread controversy in Israeli political circles, as senior Israeli officials expressed their surprise at Biden's pressure on Netanyahu, considering it "confusing."

On the other hand, families of the Israeli captives believed that Biden's statements indicate that Netanyahu is hindering the reaching of a deal.

In contrast, Netanyahu criticized the protesters who announced a general strike in Israel on Monday, describing their demonstrations as a "shame," considering that they support Hamas by standing against the Israeli government.

Netanyahu emphasized the importance of remaining in the "Philadelphia" corridor for Israel's security, warning of the difficulty of regaining control if a withdrawal occurs.

Israeli authorities announced the discovery of the bodies of six Israeli captives in Gaza, which sparked a wave of criticism against Netanyahu, as he was held responsible for their deaths, and pressures increased on him to bring back the remaining captives.

On another note, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump attacked President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, accusing them of being responsible for the deaths of the Israeli captives, including the American citizen.

For his part, Hamas leader Izzat al-Rishq blamed the Israeli occupation and the American administration, stressing that the Israeli bombardment is the cause of the death of the captives, and that Hamas was more concerned than Biden for the lives of the captives, which prompted it to accept his proposal for a truce, while Netanyahu rejected it.