Hello welcome to the program this is news hour from the BBC World Service

we're coming to you live from London my name's Paul Henley

President Biden has said that a final deal for a ceasefire and the release of

hostages held in Gaza is very close to being presented to Israel and Hamas by mediators. He also said he didn't think the Israeli Prime Minister

Benjamin Netanyahu was doing enough to secure an agreement. In Israel there's been a

general strike today to demand the government do more to free the

hostages.

Protesters say Mr Netanyahu should take responsibility for the deaths of six hostages

whose bodies were recovered in Gaza on Saturday.

In the past hour or so, the Prime Minister's been appealing to the public for their continued

support.

He also asked for forgiveness from Israelis for having not been able to bring back alive the six hostages found dead.

I am begging for your forgiveness that we did not succeed bringing them home alive.

We were very close, nearly there.

And I would like to repeat once again this evening.

Israel will not move on to our normal agenda after that massacre.

Hamas will pay a very heavy price for it.

James Landale, our diplomatic correspondent, is in Jerusalem tonight.

I asked him about the Prime Minister's question and answer session first.

Mr Netanyahu has given an extraordinary mixture of contrition and defiance.

There was a bit of contrition over the deaths of the six hostages in recent days.

He begged people's forgiveness for this.

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