The Vice President met with the relatives of Americans who are still captured by Hamas, as the government tries to make peace in Gaza by asking for a stop to the fighting. They hope this would allow the hostages to be set free.
During the meeting at the White House, Harris stressed that reuniting the hostages with their families is the top priority for President Biden and herself, according to a statement from the White House.
She also confirmed the U.S. commitment to bring back the bodies of those who have been tragically confirmed to be dead, the White House said.
Harris criticized Hamas and restated the danger the group poses to Israel, according to the White House, and she showed her support for the families of the hostages.
“The Vice President assured them that they and their loved ones are her main concern and in her prayers as the Biden-Harris Administration works to secure the release of all the hostages,” the White House said.
Some family members commented after the meeting, calling it “very productive.”
Jonathan Dekel-Chen, the father of American captive Sagui Dekel-Chen, urged Hamas to come to the negotiation table and make a deal for the release of hostages.
Jonathan Polin, another meeting participant, said they are “forced to remain optimistic.”
Five Americans are still missing and are thought to be held captive by Hamas after the attacks on Oct. 7 that killed thousands of Israelis. The Biden administration has emphasized that it continues to work for the release of all hostages as part of an immediate cease-fire that would stop the fighting between Israel and Hamas for at least six weeks.
