White House is working ‘24 hours a day’ to get US hostages out of Gaza, say family members

President Joe Biden on Wednesday met for nearly two hours with the family members of American hostages held by Hamas in a session relatives later said had strengthened their faith in the administration’s efforts to bring their loved ones home.

“We have no better friend in Washington or in the White House than President Biden himself,” said Jonathan Dekel-Chen, one of roughly a dozen people who met with Biden and other top aides. “They are willing and ready to do all that they possibly can, by any number of means to get the hostages out.”

The lengthy meeting came as Israel has intensified its fighting in Gaza, after a seven-day truce centered on agreements to free some hostages fell apart last week.

More than 100 hostages were freed during that period, including four Americans.

The White House has worked since to strike another deal to pause the fighting, in an effort to get more hostages out.

The family members declined to say whether they had received an update on their relatives or detail specifics of the private meeting, but said that the administration had kept in constant contact with them since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

“We know that they are working 24 hours a day, and they are going to work through the holidays,” said Liz Naftali, the great aunt of Abigail Edan, who was one of the Americans released during the pause in fighting. “And they are going to do everything they can to make sure that all of our loved ones — real people — come home to us and to the families across the world and in Israel.”