In his brief remarks to reporters in the Oval Office earlier, Joe Biden also said an effort is under way to secure the release of captives held in Gaza.
“That’s being negotiated, as well. The Qataris are engaged and so I remain somewhat hopeful,” the US president said.
During a news conference at the White House, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said that freeing the captives is a priority for Biden and his top aides.
“We have all spoken with families of US citizens who are being held hostage by Hamas and have raised this issue with all of our counterparts. This remains a paramount priority for us,” Sullivan said.
We reported earlier that Hamas spokesperson Abu Obaida accused Israel of derailing efforts for a Qatar-mediated prisoner exchange.
Source: AlJazeera
