NEW DELHI: A three-year-old, whose parents were killed in the October 7 attack, is one of the US hostages being held captive by the Hamas in Gaza, reported BCC quoting the White House.
President Joe Biden on Sunday raised the issue of hostages, including the child, with Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad al-Thani of Qatar.
As the White House emphasizes the ongoing “urgent” efforts to secure the release of hostages, the United States reports that ten Americans remain unaccounted for since the incident.
According to a readout of the call between Biden and Sheikh Tamim released by the White House, the US president “condemned unequivocally the holding of hostages by Hamas, including many young children, one of whom is a three-year-old American citizen toddler”.
Both leaders said, “all hostages must be released without further delay”.
Qatar played a crucial role in the release of two US hostages, Judith and Natalie Raanan from Chicago, who were abducted during Hamas’s deadly raid on Israel last month. The mother and daughter were among the four hostages freed, with a fifth being rescued by Israeli forces. The Israel Defense Forces have stated that the hostages include 20 children and between 10 to 20 individuals over the age of 60.
According to BBC, US national security adviser Jake Sullivan on Sunday told CBS politics programme Face the Nation that “active negotiations to release hostages were under way between Israel and Qatar, who is communicating with Hamas, and the United States is involved in those discussions, very much involved in those discussions”.
“We are actively working to ensure the safe return of every American being held hostage and every other person being held hostage by Hamas,” he said.
Brett McGurk, President Biden’s chief Middle East adviser, is travelling to Israel and other regional nations, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar, this week. The purpose of the visit is to engage in efforts aimed at securing the release of US hostages.
Mr Biden and Sheikh Tamim also discussed the need to protect civilians and the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the territory, reported the news outlet.
President Joe Biden on Sunday raised the issue of hostages, including the child, with Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad al-Thani of Qatar.
As the White House emphasizes the ongoing “urgent” efforts to secure the release of hostages, the United States reports that ten Americans remain unaccounted for since the incident.
According to a readout of the call between Biden and Sheikh Tamim released by the White House, the US president “condemned unequivocally the holding of hostages by Hamas, including many young children, one of whom is a three-year-old American citizen toddler”.
Both leaders said, “all hostages must be released without further delay”.
Qatar played a crucial role in the release of two US hostages, Judith and Natalie Raanan from Chicago, who were abducted during Hamas’s deadly raid on Israel last month. The mother and daughter were among the four hostages freed, with a fifth being rescued by Israeli forces. The Israel Defense Forces have stated that the hostages include 20 children and between 10 to 20 individuals over the age of 60.
According to BBC, US national security adviser Jake Sullivan on Sunday told CBS politics programme Face the Nation that “active negotiations to release hostages were under way between Israel and Qatar, who is communicating with Hamas, and the United States is involved in those discussions, very much involved in those discussions”.
“We are actively working to ensure the safe return of every American being held hostage and every other person being held hostage by Hamas,” he said.
Brett McGurk, President Biden’s chief Middle East adviser, is travelling to Israel and other regional nations, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar, this week. The purpose of the visit is to engage in efforts aimed at securing the release of US hostages.
Mr Biden and Sheikh Tamim also discussed the need to protect civilians and the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the territory, reported the news outlet.