Families of Hamas hostages meet with Biden advisers at the White House to demand answers

The families of the six remaining Israeli-American hostages, allegedly held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, met on Thursday (18) with several of US President Joe Biden's top national security advisers at the White House.

Ruby Chen, father of 19-year-old reservist Itay Chen, who has been missing since October 7, told CNN that the conversation was “informative” and that authorities offered the families the “general outline” of ongoing efforts to secure the hostages’ release. He declined to share those details.

Officials present at the meeting included National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, White House Middle East Coordinator Brett McGurk and Deputy Homeland Security Advisor Jen Daskal, according to a White House official.

See also: Families send messages to Hamas hostages in Gaza

The official said the government is “committed to an unwavering effort to get family members home,” even as frustration grows.

“In short, it has been 104 days and it is disappointing and frustrating,” Chen said. “Where is the justice? And do we want more dead American citizens? What is the administration doing about this?”

Since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas, four American hostages have been released before negotiations stalled. Talks between Israel and the radical Islamic group, with the US, Qatar and Egypt playing mediating roles, continue, but there have been no significant breakthroughs recently, according to two US officials.

Source: CNN Brasil

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