According to information obtained by NBC News, relatives of US prisoners think that the Biden administration should take a more active role since the Netanyahu government is reluctant to make the prisoner exchange agreement. According to sources, a meeting was held with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan after it was announced that 6 captives, including American citizen Hersh Goldberg-Polin, died on September 1.
At the meeting, the families of US citizens who are still captive in Gaza asked the Biden administration to consider alternatives that “do not include Israel”. White House officials told the relatives of the captives that they would consider “every option” on this issue. He also stated that an agreement option “that does not include Israel” is available for the release of Israeli prisoners in Gaza. However, some US officials express concerns that Netanyahu will not reach a ceasefire agreement in Gaza in exchange for the release of captives.
It is stated that an agreement, especially involving Hamas and Israel, is “still the best approach”. Although US officials stated that the Biden administration was investigating the possibility of a unilateral agreement with Hamas through Qatari officials about 6 months ago, it is emphasized that no results were obtained from this initiative.
An official stated that the idea of a unilateral agreement with Hamas was unrealistic because the United States “does not have enough” to offer against American captives, adding: “We are considering all options to release the captives and bring them back to their families.” he said The official added that “an official additional agreement proposal” has not been made because there is no basis for a unilateral agreement.
Qatar and Hamas, contacted for the news, did not respond to requests for comment. While the US administration thinks that 4 American citizens captives in Gaza are alive, it demands the return of the bodies of the other 3 people who are believed to be dead.
Netanyahu’s Reluctance to Exchange Prisoners
Occupying Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is criticized by both Israel and the international community for not making a prisoner exchange agreement with Hamas for political reasons. The articles that Israel added to the draft agreement, especially its insistence on maintaining control over the Philadelphi Corridor, the Egypt-Gaza border line, make these negotiations even more difficult.
