President Joe Biden is poised to welcome to the White House the families of American hostages believed to be held by Hamas in Gaza. This potentially poignant meeting arrives at a time when the administration reiterates there aren't any plans to condition aid to Israel.
Biden, in bold terms, declared, 'We're not going to do a damn thing other than protect Israel.' Tensions between lawmakers and the White House are escalating, against a backdrop of continuing friction with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Biden candidly extolled to Democratic donors that Israel's actions in Gaza risk alienating allies.
In the ensuing face-to-face meeting scheduled for today, Biden will meet with families of the American hostages. It is believed there are eight victims in total, including seven men and one woman. Family members of all the hostages are expected to partake in the meeting, either in person or virtually.
New reports suggest that Hamas has thus far not been responsive to reopening negotiations for their release. Qatar, serving as the primary negotiator, proposed to Hamas the release of additional victims, including remaining women and some men, only to be met with silence.
A National Security Council spokesperson conveyed Biden's promises of unwavering commitment to these families. 'We're not going to lose sight of their loved ones. We're not going to stop trying to get them home.' The Council stressed the President is steadfast in his obligations.
Simultaneously, a public rift between Biden and Netanyahu is manifesting over differing visions on post-conflict Israel and Gaza. Biden explicitly acknowledged the erosion of international support due to Israel’s actions in Gaza. He also suggested Netanyahu doesn’t support a two-state solution and that it 'has to change', yet is confined by his current hard-line government position.
Amidst these mounting complexities, Biden's pivotal focus today is reassuring the hostage's families of America's inflexible commitment to bring their loved ones home. The intricacies of negotiations and international relationships are a high-level puzzle to be solved, nevertheless, today underscores the personal, human realities unavoidable within this geopolitical complexity.
