White House gives update on latest effort to reach ceasefire deal
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he spoke to the families of hostages found dead over the weekend.
"I apologize that we didn't get them out," Netanyahu said. "It tears your heart out."
Netanyahu says Israel will continue its operations to keep pressure on Hamas, as the terror group has not accepted a ceasefire deal yet.
"Until that happens, we're there," Netanyahu said.
The White House says the administration is doing everything it can to facilitate a ceasefire and hostage exchange.
"We're going to keep doing everything we can to get their loved one's home where they belong. Everything we can," White House National Security Advisor Spokesperson John Kirby said.
The administration says it supports the plan for a short-term ceasefire that could lead to something bigger.
"Six weeks of no fighting. And that means more humanitarian assistance. And then getting the at least the first tranche of hostages out, the ones that are at the most risk," Kirby said.
The State Department echoed this call, as the U.S.'s partners in these negotiations help push this deal through.
"We believe self-evidently in the interests of Israel as well as, of course, the Palestinians and others in the region," State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said.
The administration says it will also take more actions to punish the leader of Hamas, who the Department of Justice recently charged.