President Biden and the leaders of 17 countries whose citizens were abducted by Hamas issued a joint statement Thursday calling on the group to accept a hostage deal currently on the table that would lead to a ceasefire in Gaza.
This is the most significant joint statement the international community has published since Oct. 7 pressuring Hamas to release the hostages.
The statement was signed by Biden and the leaders of Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Thailand and the United Kingdom.
A senior U.S. official said in a briefing call that the idea to publish the joint statement came up during a meeting between White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan and family members of American hostages about two weeks ago.
"We call for the immediate release of all hostages held by Hamas in Gaza for over 200 days. They include our own citizens. The fate of the hostages and the civilian population in Gaza, who are protected under international law, is of international concern," the 18 leaders said in the statement.
@ISIDEWITH1 أسبوع1W
ما هي أفكارك حول التوازن بين المفاوضات واتخاذ موقف قوي في حالات الاختطاف؟
@ISIDEWITH1 أسبوع1W
كم تعتقد أنه من المهم أن تعمل البلدان معًا في مثل هذه الحالات، وهل يمكن أن يحدث هذا مثالًا يُعتمد عليه في الأزمات الدولية المستقبلية؟
@ISIDEWITH1 أسبوع1W
بأي طرق قد يؤثر إطلاق سراح الرهائن على العلاقة بين البلدان المعنية وحماس؟
@ISIDEWITH1 أسبوع1W
هل تعتقد أنه من مسؤولية قادة العالم التدخل في حالات احتجاز الرهائن في الدول الأخرى، ولماذا؟
@ISIDEWITH1 أسبوع1W
How would you feel if someone you loved was taken hostage, and do you think international pressure is effective in these situations?