White House Working to Secure Release of Hostages Held by Hamas in Gaza

The United States is working to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, according to Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer. Finer appeared on “Meet the Press” and “Face the Nation” on Sunday, where he discussed the situation and the White House’s efforts to secure the release of hostages.

The United States is hopeful that a deal between Israel and Hamas is close, Finer said. He noted that many areas of difference have been narrowed, but that nothing is agreed until everything is agreed.

The situation in Gaza has become increasingly dire in recent weeks. Last week, Israeli forces invaded Gaza’s main hospital, Al-Shifa, forcing hundreds of patients and staff, including dozens of premature babies, to evacuate. The hospital was already suffering from a lack of fuel to power its incubators.

The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, has reported that more than 1.6 million people have been displaced in Gaza since Hamas launched its attack on Israel on October 7.

The White House has not yet commented on whether it believes Israel is following international law in its actions in Gaza. However, the United States is committed to doing everything it can to bring hostages home safely. Finer said that the White House is working directly and intensively behind the scenes to achieve this goal.