The families of American captives held by Hamas militants in Gaza are scheduled to meet with US National Security Adviser (NSA) Jake Sullivan at the White House this Thursday, according to an official statement.
CNN reports that invitations have been extended to the families of all six hostages, although it remains uncertain how many will attend the meeting. Speaking on Capitol Hill, Jon Polin, whose son Hersch Goldberg-Polin is among the captives, expressed urgency, stating, "103 days is 103 days too many, and we are running out of time. The hostages are running out of time."
He, along with other families of Israeli and American hostages, called on the United States, as the world's greatest superpower, to utilize its full capabilities for the release of the hostages.
Since the conflict began, four Americans have been released, with the US believing that six Americans are still held captive in Gaza. Israeli authorities report approximately 136 Israelis and foreign nationals remaining in Hamas captivity in Gaza.
During the humanitarian pause from November 24-30, 2023, 86 Israeli and 24 foreign national hostages were released. The upcoming meeting at the White House comes five days after President Joe Biden reaffirmed his commitment to rescuing all hostages, marking 100 days since their capture on October 7, 2023.
In a statement on January 14, President Biden emphasized the plight of the hostages and their families, pledging continuous efforts for their freedom. Having met some of the families in December 2023, he stated, "We are with you. We will never stop working to bring Americans home."
(With Agency Inputs)
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