WASHINGTON – Families of American hostages held by Hamas have called on the White House to seriously consider a unilateral deal with the terrorist organization to free their loved ones, an option currently under discussion within the Biden administration. people familiar with the discussions.
Sunday in a meeting with national security adviser Jake Sullivan After Hamas killed six hostagesincluding American Hersh Goldberg-PaulinRelatives of U.S. citizens still in captivity urged the administration to evaluate options that do not include Israel, the sources said. Administration officials have told the families they will explore “every option,” but a deal with Hamas, which includes Israel, is still the best approach, people familiar with the conversation said.
Debate over the one-sided deal comes as family members and some administration officials increasingly believe that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not stick to a deal with Hamas that imposed a cease-fire in Gaza in exchange for the release of hostages. people familiar with the discussions.
There are four American hostages being held by Hamas that the US believes are alive, and the administration is seeking the return of the remains of three others believed to be dead.
NBC News reported in June that the Biden administration was discussing Perhaps he will reach a unilateral agreement with Hamas For the release of American hostages in Gaza if cease-fire talks involving Israel break down. The idea did not move forward, some senior administration officials strongly opposed it, and President Joe Biden chose to continue trying to reach a broader agreement that would include Israel and ultimately provide a path to ending the conflict.
But in a sign that the one-sided deal is being investigated internally, the Biden administration has put together a list of US prisoners whose release Hamas may be interested in securing as part of a deal to free the kidnapped Americans. and two US officials familiar with the planning. One of the officials said that there are 5 people on the list.
U.S. officials have said that the Biden administration has even made initial contacts with Hamas through Qatari officials to explore the possibility of a unilateral deal amid the stalled talks with Israel.
That initial overture went nowhere, they added.
One administration official said the idea of a unilateral deal with Hamas is not realistic because the United States does not have enough money to offer in exchange for American hostages.
“We have considered all possible options to free the hostages and return them to their families. According to the demands of Hamas, there was no official proposal regarding the agreement of the parties, because such a deal is impossible,” the official said.
“Hamas wants two things that only Israel can deliver: a ceasefire and the nearly 1,000 Palestinian prisoners currently in Israeli jails. All other offers went nowhere because Hamas demands it for hostages,” the official added. “President Biden and the rest of the US government are fully committed to returning hostages, including Americans, to their families. And we continue to work around the clock to finalize the negotiated ceasefire and hostage release agreement.”
A spokesman for the Qatari government did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
A representative of the families of the American hostages held by Hamas declined to comment.
White House national security communications adviser John Kirby said Wednesday that Sullivan’s message to the families of American hostages recently was that “we will continue to do everything we can to get their loved ones home where they belong.”
“We continue to believe that the best option, the best possible way to do this, is this deal that is being negotiated now,” Kirby said, referring to talks between Israel, Hamas and the United States mediated by Qatar and Israel, which have been unable to reach an agreement for months.
State Department spokesman Matt Miller did not directly answer Tuesday when asked whether the Biden administration was seriously considering the idea of a unilateral deal with Hamas.
“All our attention is focused on reaching an agreement to return all the hostages to their homes. Of course, this includes American hostages,” said Miller. When pressed again on the idea of a unilateral deal, Miller replied, “We’re working on a deal to bring them all home.”
A list of possible US prisoners that Hamas may be interested in releasing includes five leaders of the Holy Land Relief and Development Fund, a Texas-based charity accused in 2008 of providing more than $12 million in aid to Hamas. A terrorist organization according to current and former US officials.
Two of the charity organization’s leaders, Shukri Abu Bakir and Ghassan Elashi, are serving 65 years in prison. Mohammad El-Mezain and Abdulrahman Odeh were sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Mufid Abdulgader was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Abdulgader is the brother of the former leader of Hamas.
In addition to a unilateral deal, the Biden administration is considering offering Israel and Hamas a “take it or leave it” deal that could come together as soon as this week, according to two people familiar with the discussions.
In that scenario, if both sides reject it, it could mean the end of the US-led talks, but the sources stressed that no decision has yet been made on that approach.
On Monday, Biden told reporters he was “very close” to presenting a final framework to negotiators and predicted a positive outcome was still possible.
“Hope is eternal,” Biden said.