Following the deaths of six prisoners in Gaza, including an American citizen, President Joe Biden is scheduled to meet with US negotiators on Monday to discuss a possible hostage-release agreement in the Israel-Hamas conflict, according to the White House.
Vice President Kamala Harris, who is vying to succeed Biden in November’s presidential election, will also be present for the White House meeting, which was added to Biden’s official itinerary.
Following the death of American citizen Hersh Goldberg-Polin and five other hostages by Hamas on Saturday, Biden and Harris would meet Monday “with the U.S. hostage deal negotiating team, and discuss efforts to drive towards a deal that secures the release of the remaining hostages,” according to a statement announcing Biden’s revised schedule.
The United States has been promoting a hostage-prisoner exchange and ceasefire in the Gaza conflict for months, working with other mediators Egypt and Qatar.
In the October 7 raid on Israel that started the war, militants took 251 captives; 97 of them are still in Gaza, 33 of whom the Israeli military claims are dead.
During a one-week ceasefire in November, several hostages were freed, and supporters and family members think that striking a new agreement is the best way to guarantee the return of the remaining captives.
Monday marked the start of a statewide strike in Israel intended to increase pressure on the administration of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to win the release of the remaining hostages.
Advocates and relatives of the hostages have demanded a quick ceasefire in order to free the other hostages, accusing Netanyahu’s government of not doing enough to save their lives.
