US President Joe Biden has assured that "we're working like hell" to secure the release of the 14 American nationals who remain unaccounted in Israel following the Hamas militant group's unprecedented assault on October 7.
In an interview with CBS News which will be aired on Sunday, the President said: "I say we're going to do everything in our power to find them. Everything in our power. And I'm not going to go into the detail of that, but there's -- we're working like hell on it."
His remarks came after he spoke to the families of the missing Americans on Friday on a conference call.
In a post on X, the President wrote: "I spoke with family members of Americans who are still unaccounted for following the terrorist attack in Israel. I assured them of my personal commitment to do everything possible to return them to their families.
"We won't stop until they're home."
In the CBS News interview, the President went on to say "they (missing Americans) have to know that the President of the United States of America cares deeply about what's happened to them deeply".
"We have to communicate to the world this is critical. This is not even human behaviour. It's pure barbarism. And we're going to do everything in our power to get them home if we can find them."
Although the exact number remains unclear, but according to Israeli authorities, the Hamas have taken up to 150 people as hostages following the October 7 attack.
The White House has confirmed that at least 27 Americans have been killed so far in the ensuing violence.
On Friday, the Israel Defense Forces said on Friday that it had notified 120 families of those taken hostage.
US State Dept informs Palestinian-Americans about evacuation route from Gaza
The US State Department has informed Palestinian-Americans that their families stranded in Gaza maybe be able to evacuate into Egypt , as the Rafah Crossing Point -- the enclave's border crossing with the African nation -- "may be open" on Saturday afternoon.Saying that the crossing point "may be open", Department's Consular Affairs Crisis Management System (CACMS) told the family members that "we understand the security situation is difficult, but if you wish to depart Gaza you may want to take advantage of this opportunity", CNN reported.
A State Department spokesperson told CNN they “are actively discussing this with our Israeli and Egyptian counterparts”.
“We support safe passage for civilians. We are working with our Israeli and Egyptian partners to establish a safe humanitarian corridor both for Gazans trying to flee this war and to ensure humanitarian assistance reaches those in need within the territory.”
This latest development comes after the US has continued to press the Egyptian and Israeli governments on “the importance of the Rafah crossing being open for American citizens and foreign nationals of other countries who want to leave and have the right to leave to be able to do so”, a senior State Department official said on Friday.
US officials have been engaged in discussions for days to try to secure a humanitarian corridor that would allow Americans and other civilians to safely leave Gaza ahead of an expected Israeli military incursion.
The UN on Thursday said it was informed by the Israeli military that “the entire population of Gaza north of Wadi Gaza should relocate to southern Gaza within the next 24 hours”, but IDF spokesman Lt. Col. Peter Lerner told CNN on Friday that any deadline “may slip”.
There are an estimated 500-600 Palestinian-Americans in Gaza.
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