American families of hostages held in Gaza have urged US President Joe Biden to consider a deal with Hamas that does not include Israel, NBC News reported on Thursday morning.
During a meeting on Sunday, the relatives of the remaining American hostages called for the White House administration to look for options concerning their loved one’s return, which does not include Israel.
Talks about a possible unilateral deal show growing doubts among family members and some officials about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreeing to a cease-fire with Hamas for the release of hostages, NBC News noted in their report.
This is not the first time the subject of an agreement between the US and the terrorist organization Hamas. In June, NBC reported that the Biden administration began discussions on the matter, though the initiative did not succeed, with key administration figures strongly opposing the idea.
However, By creating a list of five US prisoners that Hamas might want in exchange for freeing American hostages, according to current and former administration officials, one could argue that the Biden administration had explored a possible unilateral deal that does not include Israel.
Israel’s key role in cease-fire and hostage deal
Moreover, approximately six months ago in March, the US reached out to Hamas through Qatari officials to discuss this option, since broader talks with Israel had stalled. However, this effort did not lead to any results.
Despite seemingly attempting to deal with the terrorist organization and the family’s call for a unilateral deal that excludes Israel, one administration official claimed the idea of dealing with Hamas without Israel is unrealistic as the terrorist organization wants something the US cannot offer, NBC noted in their report.
“Hamas wants two things that only Israel can deliver: a cease-fire and nearly 1,000 Palestinian prisoners currently in Israeli jails. Every other proposal has gone nowhere because that is what Hamas demands for the hostages,” NBC cited the official.
The Biden administration is seeking to return the four remaining American hostages believed to be alive: Edan Alexander, Sagui Dekel-Chen, Omer Neutra, and Keith Seigal, as well as the bodies still held by Hamas of Itay Chen, Gadi Haggai, and Judith Weinstein Haggai, all of which were confirmed dead.
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