President Joe Biden recently revealed that the U.S. government is currently unsure when exactly the American hostages taken by Hamas will be freed. The issue has become increasingly difficult to solve, as the U.S. has no diplomatic ties with Hamas, and the group has yet to respond to any deal-making.
According to Biden, when asked if the hostages would be freed soon, he responded “We don’t know… we’re working hard on it.” The president also mentioned that he is closely monitoring the situation, and that many are working hard to resolve the issue.
The hostages were taken on April 8, 2021 by unknown gunmen in Bethlehem, with Hamas suspects responsible for their abduction. The group is believed to have demanded that a hefty ransom is paid, but the United States government has so far refused to do so. White House officials have claimed that the United States will not respond to “terrorism or hostage taking.”
Theories on why Hamas has yet to respond differently have been sprouting, such as the idea that the group might be reviewing its stance on the issue, or that the group might be waiting for a political solution to present itself.
Whichever the case may be, it is sure that the Biden administration is doing all it can to ensure the safety of our citizens, and that the government will not resort to any drastic measures just yet.
The administration has also said that the January discussion with Israeli leaders about release of American prisoners in Gaza has not been successful so far, and that they have only received limited information about the hostages. It is uncertain when the Trump administration sent any advanced funds to Hamas for the release of the hostages.
The fact that the American hostages are still in Hamas’s hands has sparked worry and concern among many families of the victims, as well as to the general public. Biden reassured Americans, however, that his administration is doing everything they can to resolve this situation as quickly and as safely as possible.