When President Joe Biden addressed the American people on Sunday about the administration’s efforts to free hostages held by Hamas, President Joe Biden said a four-year-old American girl had been freed as part of the exchange. As the president explained, she was handed over to the Israeli side.
The head of the White House expressed hope that other Americans would be quickly released.
He also stressed that his administration is making efforts to ensure that the pause in hostilities between Israel and Hamas lasts longer, at least until the day after tomorrow.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told CBS on Sunday that Biden will speak by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Earlier on Sunday, Hamas said it had handed over a hostage from the Gaza Strip, who has Russian citizenship, to the International Red Cross.
It is not clear whether the move is related to the agreement between Israel and Hamas, according to which, under a four-day truce, Hamas will release 50 Israelis, including women and children, taken hostage on October 7, and Israel will retaliate by releasing 150 Palestinian prisoners, including women and teenagers.
Last week, National Security Council Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby said Biden was “personally involved” in a deal to free about 50 hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, and that the president discussed the topic with the emir of Qatar at the APEC forum. in San Francisco last week.
