Families of US captives press Biden to make deal directly with Hamas, without Israel: Report
Washington (Quds News Network)- The families of American captives held in Gaza have pressed the White House to make a deal directly with Hamas to secure their release.
NBC News has reported, citing five people familiar with the discussions, that the Biden administration is currently considering the option.
The report comes after Biden on Monday said Netanyahu is not doing enough to secure a Gaza ceasefire deal, in rare public criticism of the Israeli leader from the US president while hundreds of thousands of Israelis have also taken to the streets expressing frustration at the Netanyahu government’s handling of the captive exchange negotiations as six Israeli captives, including American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, were announced dead on Sunday about a day or two before they were found in Rafah.
In a Sunday meeting with national security adviser Jake Sullivan, the families of US captives, including Hersh Goldberg-Polin, urged the administration to evaluate options that do not include Israel, the sources said.
Administration officials told the families that they would explore “every option,” but a deal with Hamas that includes Israel is still the best approach, people familiar with the conversation said.
There are four remaining American captives being held in Gaza that the U.S. believes are alive, and the administration is seeking the return of the remains of three others who are believed to be dead, according to the report.
