All articles tagged with #american hostages
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz informed US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin of a potential new hostage deal that could lead to the release of all hostages, including those with American citizenship, according to Israeli media reports. This development is ongoing.
President Biden met with family members of Americans being held hostage by Hamas in Gaza, expressing gratitude for their time and promising to keep them informed of his administration's efforts to secure their release. The meeting comes as Biden criticized Israel for its "indiscriminate bombing" in Gaza and warned Israeli leaders of losing international support. The path to securing the release of the remaining hostages remains unclear, as the U.S. has tried to prioritize their release over bombing Gaza. International calls for a cease-fire have grown, with the United Nations voting for a second time to demand a cease-fire in Gaza. Biden's comments on Israel losing support were seen as a strong break with the country since the war began.
President Joe Biden will meet with families of American hostages abducted by Hamas during the October 7 attack on Israel at the White House. The families are urging the Biden administration and Israeli government to work harder for their loved ones' release. There are still seven American men and one woman missing, while four Americans have been released so far. The families have expressed frustration with what they perceive as minimal support from the Israeli government and are hopeful that a separate deal, similar to one reached by Russian President Vladimir Putin for Israeli-Russian hostages, could be made.
Several family members of American hostages believed to have been taken by Hamas were not invited to a Hanukkah reception at the White House, despite being in Washington, DC, and requesting to attend. The reception, hosted by President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden, will include Holocaust survivors, lawmakers, and Jewish leaders. There are still eight American hostages unaccounted for since the Israel-Hamas war began, and the families have expressed anxiety over the lack of progress. The Biden administration continues to be in contact with Israeli, Qatari, and Egyptian counterparts to secure the release of the hostages.
CNN's Jake Tapper interviews five families of American hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza, asking them about Israel's killing of Palestinian civilians. The families' responses were not provided in the summary.
Abigail Mor Edan, a 4-year-old American girl, was among the hostages released by Hamas on Sunday. President Biden confirmed her release and stated that she had experienced a terrible trauma, with her mother being killed in front of her and her father being gunned down while trying to protect her. A total of 17 hostages were released, including 14 Israeli citizens and three foreign nationals. The Qatari Foreign Ministry also announced that 39 Palestinians would be released as part of the hostage swap. The release of the remaining hostages is still being negotiated.
Former President Trump criticized American leaders for the lack of U.S. citizens among the hostages recently released by Hamas. While Hamas released 17 hostages on Saturday and 24 on Friday, none of them were American, including a 4-year-old girl. Israel and Hamas have agreed to a four-day cease-fire, during which 50 more hostages are expected to be released by Hamas in exchange for the release of 150 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. President Biden expressed hope for the release of American hostages but stated uncertainty about the timing and conditions. Approximately 10 Americans are believed to be among those held hostage by Hamas.
The family of two American hostages freed by Hamas terrorists has accused Black Lives Matter activist Shaun King of lying about his involvement in securing their release. King claimed to have worked "frantically behind the scenes" to help secure their freedom, but the family denies any affiliation with him and says he did nothing to assist. King has shared screenshots of alleged conversations with the family member who reached out to him, but it is unclear if the family was aware of these recordings. The hostages were released due to the declining health of one of the captives, and the government of Qatar played a role in securing their release.
The family of two American hostages released by Hamas in Gaza has denied any association with American writer and activist Shaun King, who claimed to have facilitated their release. The family called King a "liar" and stated that they had no connection to him. The hostages were received by the Israeli military upon their release, while around 200 people abducted during the same attack are still awaiting release.
Hamas has released two American hostages who were taken from Israel, marking a positive development in the ongoing negotiations between Hamas and Israel. The release of the hostages is seen as a step towards improving relations between the two parties.
President Joe Biden stated that his administration is actively working to free American hostages held by Hamas in Israel, but did not provide specific details. The White House acknowledged that it has no update on the condition or whereabouts of the hostages, and warned that the number of Americans being held by Hamas may increase. The US is in discussions with countries like Qatar, which have lines of communication with Hamas, to secure the release of the hostages. However, Hamas has not shown a willingness to engage in diplomacy, and Israel is not currently inclined to negotiate a deal.
President Biden confirmed that Hamas is holding American hostages and condemned the attack on Israel, describing it as "pure unadulterated evil." He expressed his unwavering support for Israel and vowed to stand by the embattled ally. The White House confirmed that about 20 Americans are missing, and it is believed that some of them are in the hands of Hamas. The president denounced the attack, using strong language to describe the atrocities committed, and emphasized that there is no justification for terrorism. The United States is providing military aid to Israel and working on a way to allow Gazans to escape Israeli airstrikes.
Families of four American citizens believed to be held by Hamas in Gaza are pleading for assistance from the Israeli and American governments, claiming inadequate support and information. At least 11 American citizens have been killed in the attacks, and 20 or more remain unaccounted for. The families shared emotional stories of their loved ones, including a nurse, a soldier, and a young man attending a music festival, who were caught in the violence. They called on President Biden and Secretary of State Blinken to bring the U.S. citizens back home safely.
President Biden confirmed that American citizens are among those being held hostage by Hamas following the coordinated attack that killed over a thousand people in Israel. The number of Americans killed in the attacks has risen to 14. The U.S. does not know the exact number of hostages or their condition but believes there are 20 or more Americans missing. Biden has directed his team to share intelligence and deploy experts to assist Israeli counterparts in hostage recovery efforts. He called on Congress to provide funding to Israel and emphasized the U.S.'s support for Israel in the face of these attacks.
The Biden administration is facing criticism for reportedly considering a deal to give $17 billion to Iran in exchange for temporary restrictions on its nuclear program and the release of American hostages. The funds would come from frozen assets in Iraqi banks and could be linked to restrictions on Tehran's atomic program. Critics argue that giving Iran billions of dollars would incentivize more hostage-taking and fuel more Iranian terrorism around the world. The proposed deal would compel Iran to stop enriching uranium at high levels in exchange for significant sanctions relief.