American hostage may be released on Sunday, Biden’s top adviser says

At least one U.S. citizen could be among the group of hostages that Hamas will release on Sunday, Jake Sullivan, President Biden’s national security adviser, said on CBS’s “Face the Nation.”

“We have reason to believe that an American will be released today,” Mr. Sullivan said.

Israel and Hamas are midway through a four-day lull in a war that began after Hamas attackers killed about 1,200 people in Israel on Oct. 7, including in their homes and at a music festival, kidnapping about 240 people.

Under a deal the United States helped broker with Qatar and Egypt, Hamas will return 50 hostages, all women and children, during the temporary ceasefire. Israel will release 150 Palestinian prisoners, many of whom have been held for violent crimes.

Over the past two days, Hamas has returned 26 Israeli hostages, 14 Thai citizens and one Filipino citizen, all women and children. No Americans have been released yet.

About ten American citizens are believed to have been taken hostage by Hamas. Among them is Avigail Idan, whose parents were shot by Hamas. She was 3 years old when she was kidnapped and turned 4 on Friday.

President Biden this week praised the first release of hostages and said the United States was committed to the return of all Americans.

“We will also not stop until we bring these hostages home and get an answer to their whereabouts,” he said.

Mr Sullivan said he could not confirm whether Avigail would be released on Sunday.

“At least one American will be released today. I cannot confirm who it will be, or if it will absolutely happen,” Mr. Sullivan said, adding that “we are dealing with a terrorist group.”

Mr. Sullivan sidestepped questions about whether Mr. Biden would want to impose conditions on further aid to Israel, including a freeze on Israeli settlements in the West Bank. But he said Mr. Biden was working on a peace plan that includes a two-state solution.

“We believe this is absolutely a moment for us to work with everyone in the region,” Mr. Sullivan said. “We think now is the time for that kind of diplomacy.”