The American leader assured them that his administration is committed to bringing their loved ones back.
Family members said in a statement after the meeting that they had urged Mr. Biden to do “everything in his power to secure the swift and full release of the remaining hostages” and offered to do “whatever he needs to do” to get the hostages released.
“We’ve felt before, and now we’re even more convinced and believe, that we couldn’t have a better friend in Washington or in the White House than President Biden himself and his administration,” said Jonathan Dekel-Chen, whose son Sagui is among Americans believed to be held by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.
The two-hour meeting came a day after Mr. Biden stepped up his criticism of Israel’s retaliatory strikes on the Gaza Strip and warned that the Israelis were losing international support for what he called indiscriminate bombing.
Israeli officials on Wednesday sought to play down signs of tension between Mr. Biden and the government of Benjamin Netanyahu.
“I have a lot of respect for President Biden, Defense Secretary (Lloyd) Austin and all the top officials of the American government. They are doing a lot,” said Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
He added: “Talks are ongoing. I think we will find a way to help Americans help us. This is the most important and it is the basis. They want us to succeed, and we understand that we have to do it with their needs in mind and without giving up the war’s objectives.”
Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Deputy National Security Adviser Jonathan Finer attended Wednesday’s meeting with Mr. Biden.
According to the White House, thirteen family members attended in person and another three joined the conversation with the president and his advisers by phone.
The president had previously met with some of these people virtually and talked to others by phone.
Mr. Dekel-Chen declined to say what information, if any, Mr. Biden and other administration officials had given the group of relatives about U.S. efforts to free their family members. But he said the administration has made clear it is “fully committed to freeing the hostages.”
On Thursday, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan is going to Israel to meet with Prime Minister B. Netanyahu and other top officials.
Eight Americans remain unaccounted for after Hamas’s surprise air, sea and land incursions into Israeli cities from the Gaza Strip killed an estimated 1,200 people. Israelis, mostly civilians, and took more than 240 hostages. At least 31 Americans were killed by Hamas and other militant groups on October 7, the White House said.
The four Americans were released as part of a US-brokered ceasefire in Israel’s war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip brokered by Qatar and Egypt.
Another American woman was supposed to be released by Hamas under the terms of last month’s cease-fire, but she still hasn’t turned up. This contributed to the temporary cessation of hostilities.
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2024-08-07 06:29:53
