Washington, 2 September 2024 (TDI): President Joe Biden is scheduled to meet on Monday with the US negotiating team working on securing a deal for the release of hostages in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
This decision comes in response to the recent deaths of six hostages, including an American citizen, in Gaza.
The White House announced that Biden’s official schedule was adjusted to accommodate this critical meeting, which will also include Vice President Kamala Harris.
The session aims to address efforts to reach an agreement for the release of the remaining hostages.
The updated schedule highlights Biden and Harris’s focus on the aftermath of Hamas’s execution of American citizen Hersh Goldberg-Polin and five other captives on Saturday.
Biden & Harris meeting in Situation Room this morning with the team negotiating the hostage deal
Biden still believes we’re on the verge of achieving a ceasefire/hostage-release deal. But that optimism isn’t reflected on the ground with major sticking points remaining @GMA pic.twitter.com/SkA8USImfk— Selina Wang (@selinawangtv) September 2, 2024
The discussion will center on strategies to negotiate the release of the remaining hostages.
The United States, together with Egypt and Qatar, has been actively working towards a hostage-prisoner exchange and a ceasefire in Gaza.
Following the October 7 attack on Israel, which led to the current war, militants captured 251 hostages. Of these, 97 are still held in Gaza, with the Israeli military reporting that 33 of them are dead.
A temporary truce in November saw the release of numerous hostages, and there is widespread belief among campaigners and family members that securing another deal is crucial for the safe return of the remaining captives.
Strike in Israel
On Monday, a nationwide strike in Israel will commence, aimed at increasing pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to expedite the release of the hostages.
Relatives and advocates have criticized Netanyahu’s administration for its handling of the situation and are demanding an immediate ceasefire to facilitate the rescue of the remaining captives.
