In a recent interview on ABC’s “This Week,” national security adviser Jake Sullivan disclosed that U.S. and Israeli officials are still grappling with uncertainty regarding the fate of hostages captured by Hamas militants on October 7.
When questioned about the nine American citizens and one green card holder believed to be in Hamas custody, Sullivan reiterated the unwavering commitment of the United States to securing their release. However, he emphasized the challenges in determining the status of the 239 individuals classified as missing and held by Hamas by Israel.
“The exact number of hostages is unknown to us at this time. We know the number of missing, and that’s the number the Israelis have given, but we don’t know how many of those are still alive,” Sullivan stated during the ABC interview. From the U.S. perspective, he clarified that there are ten people missing, comprising nine citizens and one legal permanent resident.
Sullivan announced his plans to meet with the families of the missing Americans later in the week to provide updates and address their concerns. Regarding Hamas’ claims of hostages being killed in Israeli attacks on October 7, Sullivan urged caution, criticizing the acceptance of Hamas assertions at face value. He underscored that the U.S. lacks the means to either validate or disprove these charges.
In the aftermath of the October 7 events, Israel has intensified its airstrikes and artillery fire in northern Gaza. The Israeli Defense Forces have launched a ground attack on Gaza City, the main population center in the region. Reports from Israel suggest that many of the captives may be held in the intricate network of tunnels beneath the city maintained by Hamas.
Adding complexity to the situation are inaccurate reports of casualties. The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry claims that over 11,000 individuals have been killed by Israeli activities since the onset of hostilities. Notably, the ministry does not differentiate between terrorists and civilians. The United States has unequivocally rejected these estimates, denying their validity.
While global attention is focused on the evolving developments, ensuring the safety of the hostages remains a top priority for both the United States and Israel. Amid the volatile and uncertain situation in the region, diplomatic efforts persist in the quest to secure the release of the captives.