Hostage families urge Biden to 'unilaterally' negotiate with Hamas without Israel's involvement

Following killing of six hostages, families urged US officials to bypass Israel and directly deal with Hamas

The families of American hostages held by Hamas are pressuring the Biden administration to explore a direct deal with Hamas that bypasses Israel, in hopes of securing the release of their loved ones.

According to sources familiar with the discussions, the possibility of a unilateral agreement is being debated within the administration.

During a meeting with National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, following the killing of six hostages by Hamas, including American citizen Hersh Goldberg-Polin, the families urged officials to consider options outside of a broader negotiation that includes Israel.

While administration officials assured the families that all options would be considered, they emphasised that a deal involving Israel remains the most viable approach.

Concerns are growing among some officials and family members that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may not support a cease-fire deal with Hamas, further complicating negotiations.

Four American hostages are believed to be alive, and efforts are also being made to recover the remains of three others.

Although the Biden administration previously considered negotiating directly with Hamas, the idea was not pursued.

However, US officials have reportedly drawn up a list of prisoners that Hamas might want in exchange for the hostages, but a formal offer has not been made due to Hamas’ demands for a cease-fire and the release of nearly 1,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

The Biden administration continues to prioritize a broader cease-fire and hostage release deal involving Israel, with ongoing negotiations mediated by Qatar.

On Sunday, the Israeli military announced the recovery of the bodies of six Israeli captives from a tunnel in the city of Rafah in southern Gaza, including Danino's.

The army accused Hamas of killing them, while Hamas said the army killed them through direct aerial bombardment.

Israel is holding at least 9,500 Palestinian prisoners in its jails and estimates that 101 Israeli hostages are being held in Gaza. Hamas has announced that dozens of these hostages have been killed in indiscriminate Israeli air strikes.

Since the discovery of the six captives' bodies, there has been growing criticism in Israel, blaming Netanyahu for their deaths and urging him to quickly reach a deal to exchange the remaining captives.

For months, security officials, the opposition and the families of the captives have accused Netanyahu of obstructing a deal with Hamas.

But far-right ministers including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich have threatened to withdraw from the government and bring it down if a deal to end the war is reached.

The US, Qatar and Egypt have been trying for months to reach an agreement between Israel and Hamas to ensure a prisoner exchange and a cease-fire deal and allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza. But mediation efforts have been stalled due to Netanyahu’s refusal to meet Hamas’s demands to stop the war.

Israel has continued its brutal offensive on Gaza following an attack on October 7 by Hamas, despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire.

The onslaught has resulted in more than 40,800 Palestinian deaths, mostly women and children, and nearly 94,300 injuries, according to local health authorities.

An ongoing blockade of Gaza has led to severe shortages of food, clean water and medicine, leaving much of the region in ruins.

Israel faces accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which has ordered a halt to military operations in Rafah, where more than 1 million Palestinians had sought refuge before the area was invaded on May 6.