Hamas claims to have released two American hostages as a result of Qatari mediation, aiming to refute claims made by the Biden administration. Israeli airstrikes in Gaza have intensified, with the death toll surpassing 4,000 Palestinians and 1,400 Israelis. US President Joe Biden expressed support for Israel and Ukraine, linking Hamas and Russian President Vladimir Putin as threats to neighboring democracies. The US Navy intercepted Houthi cruise missiles potentially targeting Israel, while rockets were fired at Israel from southern Lebanon. The humanitarian situation in Gaza worsens, with hospitals at risk of running out of fuel.
President Biden expressed his commitment to bringing home U.S. hostages held by Hamas during a meeting with American Jewish leaders at the White House. The Biden administration stated that at least 22 American citizens were among the dead in the recent Hamas attack in Israel, with 17 more still missing, some of whom are believed to be hostages. While the U.S. has sent hostage specialists to assist Israel, it has deferred to Israel's leadership in public. President Biden emphasized the importance of not remaining silent in the face of such attacks and expressed hope in bringing the hostages home.
A new report by The New York Times suggests that a prominent Republican close to Ronald Reagan's campaign sought to sabotage then-President Jimmy Carter's reelection by asking Middle Eastern leaders to get a message to the Iranians: Keep the American hostages until after the election, and the Reagan administration will give you a better deal. This has prompted a rethinking of presidential history, as it suggests that the Reagan campaign prolonged the captivity of Americans at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in order to achieve a political victory.
A former Texas governor, John Connally, met with Middle Eastern leaders in 1980 to convince Iran to delay releasing American hostages as part of a Republican effort to sabotage Jimmy Carter's re-election campaign, according to a report. Connally was there to deliver a message: "Don't release the hostages before the election. Mr Reagan will win and give you a better deal." Carter lost the election amid criticism of his handling of the Iran crisis and a stagnating economy. The hostages were eventually released on 20 January 1981, the day Reagan took office.
