President Biden, on Friday, wrote to the leaders of Egypt and Qatar, urging them to convince Hamas to release some of the vulnerable hostages that remain in captivity in Gaza.
Biden, 81, also asked Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Than to ensure that Hamas abides by the terms of the deal.
The terms include the release of the sick, wounded, elderly and young female hostages.
This will be in exchange for halt to Israel’s military operations in the region, according to a senior administration official.
US National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan, will meet with the families of some hostages at the White House on Monday.
The President’s letters to Egypt and Qatar come one day after he told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Biden had told him to “empower his negotiators” to reach a deal with Hamas “without delay”. This is according to a readout of their call.
Biden’s requests come as talks hold in Cairo this weekend about the ongoing stalemate.
The President dispatched CIA Director, Bill Burns, to participate in the discussions with Egyptian, Israeli and Qatari officials. This is with the hopes that a breakthrough can be reached.
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An estimated 134 hostages remain in Hamas custody in Gaza, including five US citizens.
For months, US lawmakers and family members of some of the hostages, have urged Biden to turn the screws on the international community to get more hostages out of Gaza.
“We are concerned that Qatar is not fully utilising its leverage to seek further concessions from Hamas,” Sens. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) wrote in a letter to Biden last December.
The senators noted that “Qatar maintains close ties with Hamas and has access and influence with the group”.
Ernst and Rosen called on Biden to “make clear to Qatar that the United States is closely watching ongoing hostage negotiations.
And that Qatar’s inability to deliver on its commitments regarding the safe return of all remaining hostages will significantly impact bilateral relations”.
Their plea echoed calls from Ruby Chen, the father of 19-year-old Itay Chen.
Chen was initially believed to be one of Hamas’ hostages. They later discovered that he had died in the Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel. (NY Post)
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