Biden-Harris, after Hamas murders six hostages, turn away from Netanyahu

“No,” is President Biden’s response to a reporter’s question about whether Prime Minister Netanyahu is “doing enough” to free the hostages. What a disgusting statement. The White House is reportedly preparing a “final” offer for a Hamas-Israel deal that can be accepted or rejected. It appears that pressure on the Israeli government to release 100 women, men and children held captive by Hamas for almost a year in the tunnels in the Gaza Strip.

The hearts of all Americans are with the Israeli families who so eloquently share their grief. Millions of Americans embrace them. But the criticism of the government reminds us of the taunts of the man who lost a coin in the dark and went to look for it under the streetlight because that is where the light is. The enemy is holding hostages in dark tunnels, not in Jerusalem. Hamas is part of Iran’s seven-front war to eradicate the Jewish state.

So the pressure is not on Mr. Netanyahu, but on Yehya Sinwar. After the reports of the murder of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Mr. Biden and Vice President Harris issued statements that effectively blamed Hamas for the killing of the American. Ms. Harris even suggested that the terrorist threat “must be eliminated, and Hamas cannot control Gaza.” But the administration’s political pressure on Israel to make additional concessions would ease the military pressure on Hamas.

In Israel, news of Hamas’s latest barbarity comes in the wake of the largest anti-government protest since Oct. 7. Mr. Netanyahu faces a choice. To appease Washington and protesters in Tel Aviv, he can temporarily cede the corridor to Philadelphia, which he doubts would be temporary, and risk a quick rearmament of Hamas. Or he can ignore the noise, risk more hostages dying and deny his duty pidyon shveyim — to release the prisoners.

Hamas’s already low motivation to release the hostages is waning as global pressure on Mr. Netanyahu mounts. Washington has consistently praised the diplomatic efforts of Hamas’s sponsors — Qatar and Turkey, as well as Egypt, which supports Hamas. “No,” Mr. Biden could have said long ago if asked, and he never is if asked. They do enough for the hostages. America has enough influence to pressure these Middle Eastern allies to force Hamas to act. Helping Iran is useless.

Instead, the Biden-Harris administration is using America’s influence with Israel to accept another “final” offer. Doha, Cairo, and Ankara will dutifully convey it to their Hamas guests. As always, Mr. Sinwar will say “no,” convinced that Israel will make further concessions. Why not? After previous offers, Secretary Blinken insisted that Israel had accepted the latest terms of the deal and urged Hamas to accept them. Mr. Sinwar said “no,” and negotiations resumed.

So where does Biden shift the burden to Netanyahu — and Harris hints she’ll up the ante? She and her national security guru, Philip Gordon, are reportedly plotting a “new direction” in America’s relationship with Israel. If elected, she “could be open to imposing conditions on aid to Israel,” the Washington Post reports. The pro-Iran wing of the Democratic Party is expected to dominate Ms. Harris’ “first day.”

Many in America and Israel blame Mr. Netanyahu for the deaths of the six hostages. The most cynical Americans even suggest, on scant evidence, that Mr. Netanyahu colluded with President Trump to delay any deal until after November. We believe the culprit is Hamas and its Iranian backers, who want to ignite the entire Middle East. The White House is clumsily trying to help, but will it be enough? To quote Mr. Biden: No.