A faction of the American populace, spearheaded by GOP legislators, expressed their frustration as Hamas did not release US hostages in the initial batch. Doubts were raised about the credibility of the ceasefire, purportedly brokered by the White House and Arab nations.
Media reports criticized President Joe Biden on social media when no Americans were among the hostages released by Hamas on Friday. In a deal involving the release of 13 Israelis, Hamas was expected to free 50 hostages during a four-day ceasefire, exchanging them for 150 Palestinian women and children in Israeli jails and increased humanitarian aid.
The first group of 39 Palestinians, along with 10 Thai citizens and one Filipino working in Israel, was released, but none were Americans.
This absence of American releases triggered backlash from conservative legislators who initially supported Biden's endorsement of the truce agreement, anticipating the return of American hostages. Commentators like Carmine Sabia and Graham Allen criticized Biden's involvement, with Allen contrasting it with former President Trump's hypothetical approach.
Podcaster Alec Lace and columnist Phil Holloway expressed skepticism and dissatisfaction, questioning Biden's role and demanding the release of Americans before any credit is given.
Responding to media inquiries, a senior White House official stated that they did not anticipate American hostages in the first release but remained hopeful for subsequent batches.
President Biden, in response to the released hostages, assured that more releases were expected in the following days, emphasizing the agreement's foundation in extensive US diplomacy. While the exact number of American hostages remains unconfirmed, an earlier investigation suggested that at least 10 Americans were held captive by Hamas, excluding the release of Judith and Natalie Raanan on October 20.
Also Read | Red Cross Receives Second Batch of Hostages from Hamas
