WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris hosted U.S. negotiators on Monday in an attempt to push forward negotiations over a possible hostage-release agreement in the Israel-Hamas conflict. The meeting comes after the deadly episode of six hostages who died in Gaza, including American citizen Hersh Goldberg-Polin.
In fact, the White House called for an eleventh-hour adjustment to Biden’s official schedule to make room for what was thought to be this very crucial meeting. Among those in attendance were senior members of the U.S. hostage negotiation team, as the meeting sought to apply pressure on the progress for the release of the remaining hostages still under Hamas captivity.
Six Hostages, Including American, Killed by Hamas
That urgency mounted after Hamas executed Goldberg-Polin and five other hostages on Saturday. Since then, an acceleration in the efforts by the U.S., working with its mediation partners Egypt and Qatar, has been evident to push for an exchange of hostages for prisoners tied to a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
The war by Israel against Hamas, which began on October 7, has led to the taking of hostages by militants, numbering 251 so far, with 97 still held hostage in Gaza. Confirmed kills among the hostages numbered 33, according to a report from the military.
Nationwide Strike in Israel to Pressure Netanyahu
In Israel, a general strike was to start on Monday, in a bid to push Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to take tough steps toward retrieving the hostages. The families of the hostages, along with various pressure groups, have attacked Netanyahu’s government for not doing enough to bring the hostages home alive. They have been pressing for an immediate cease-fire to rescue the remaining hostages.
Hostage Negotiations Go On Amid CriticismGrim developments notwithstanding, diplomatic efforts go on. The United States, through Egypt and Qatar, is pushing for a negotiated solution that could see the remaining hostages returned to their families. Several hostages were released in last month’s one-week truce, nurturing hopes that further deals could be struck.
It is not a fait accompli, as the outcome of the discussions taking place at the White House on Monday can shape the next phase of the international effort toward the settlement of the very complex and tragic conflict.
