"Biden Criticizes Israel's Gaza Response as Excessive"

President Biden criticized Israel's military conduct in Gaza as "over the top" and expressed optimism for a deal pairing the release of hostages with a prolonged pause in the fighting. He emphasized the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and faced pressure from his own party to demand a ceasefire. American, Qatari, and Egyptian negotiators are working on an agreement between Israel and Hamas, with Biden pushing for a sustained pause in the fighting to pave the way for diplomatic discussions about the future of Gaza and a Palestinian state.