National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan is scheduled to meet with the families of American hostages held by Hamas on Monday at the White House, according to a senior administration official.
This meeting follows the tragic loss of at least 32 American lives at the hands of Hamas on October 7th, with several individuals still in captivity. The conflict between Israel and Hamas has persisted for six months, prompting calls for a cessation of hostilities from both sides.
President Joe Biden has urged the leaders of Egypt and Qatar to use their influence to persuade Hamas militants to release the hostages and agree to a ceasefire in Gaza. As part of these efforts, CIA Director Bill Burns will lead a U.S. delegation in talks scheduled for this weekend in Cairo.
A senior official from the Biden administration reiterated that the key to achieving a ceasefire in Gaza lies in Hamas’s willingness to release certain vulnerable hostages, such as the sick, wounded, elderly, and young women.
These individuals are particularly in need of protection. The meeting with the families of the hostages, to be led by Sullivan, underscores the government’s commitment to bringing them home safely.
