NBC News revealed discussions within President Biden’s administration regarding the potential negotiation with Hamas for the release of American hostages in Gaza, bypassing Israel’s involvement. These talks would only commence if the current cease-fire negotiations between Israel and Hamas collapse. U.S. representatives would engage with Hamas through Qatari intermediaries, mirroring Israel’s ongoing discussions.
According to U.S. officials, five American citizens were taken hostage by Hamas during the October 7 attack on Israel. Additionally, the U.S. seeks the repatriation of the remains of three U.S. citizens killed during the same incident. However, the fate of these hostages remains uncertain. The State Department has not yet provided a comment on the matter, despite requests from Fox News Digital.
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This development coincides with Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to Egypt to intensify efforts aimed at pressuring both Hamas and Israel to reach a cease-fire agreement in Gaza. The objective is to prevent the conflict from spilling over into Lebanon, where Hezbollah operates and has launched attacks against Israel.
During his trip, Blinken met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo and is scheduled to travel to Israel later today to hold discussions with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. President Biden previously outlined a three-phase cease-fire proposal from Israel, which includes the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, as well as the reconstruction of Gaza.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu’s government faces uncertainty following the resignation of Israeli minister Benny Gantz from the government over the weekend. Blinken is expected to meet with Gantz on Tuesday, according to a senior State Department official.
While Gantz’s departure does not immediately threaten the government, it could significantly impact its stability, potentially leaving Netanyahu reliant on hardliners amidst ongoing conflict and the possibility of escalation with Hezbollah in the north.
Cease-fire negotiations have gained momentum since Biden’s proposal, with CIA Director William Burns holding discussions with senior mediators from Qatar and Egypt in Doha last Wednesday to advance the plan.
