Family Of American Citizens Persisted By Hamas In Gaza Talks With White House Officials

UNSPLASH/Tabrez Syed White House/ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - Several American families believed to be held hostage by Hamas in Gaza spoke with two senior White House officials on Sunday.

Citing a source on Monday, October 7, CNN reported a conversation with senior White House adviser Amos Hochstein, who traveled to Israel last month, and Middle East coordinator Brett McGurk took place one day before the October 7 terror attack on Israel.

In a statement on Monday morning, US President Joe Biden renewed his call to reach a ceasefire agreement that would guarantee the release of hostages even though the negotiations had little support in recent weeks.

Today and every day, I think about the hostages and their families. I have met the families of the hostages and mourned with them. They have gone through hell. My government has negotiated for the safe release of more than 100 hostages, including Americans. We will never give up until we bring home all the remaining hostages safely," the president wrote in his statement.

"We will not stop trying to reach a ceasefire agreement in Gaza that can repatriate the hostages, enabling increased humanitarian aid to ease suffering on the ground, ensuring Israel's security, and ending this war. Israelis and Palestinians both have the right to live in security, dignity and peace," added Bden.

President Biden previously said on Saturday, October 5, he would speak with the hostages' families, but it was not clear whether the conversation would have happened today.

The White House did not immediately comment on the call of the hostages' families with McGurk and Hochstein on Sunday.