From the Liveblog of
Saturday, June 8, 2024
US national security adviser praises hostage rescue op, says US supporting ‘all efforts’ to release captives
Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief
US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan hails the “daring” IDF operation to rescue four Israeli hostages earlier today.
“The United States is supporting all efforts to secure the release of hostages still held by Hamas, including American citizens,” Sullivan says in a statement.
The top aide to US President Joe Biden adds that Noa Argamani, Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Kozlov, and Shlomi Ziv “were taken from the Nova Music Festival on October 7, and Hamas filmed the horrific abduction of Ms. Argamani for the world to see. Now they are safe and reunited with their families.”
Given that the US has repeatedly expressed concern over civilian casualties in Gaza, Sullivan’s statement notably makes no mention of the dozens of Palestinians reportedly killed in the Israeli rescue operation.
Still, he stresses Washington’s continued support for the ongoing effort to secure a hostage deal between Israel and Hamas.
“The hostage release and ceasefire deal that is now on the table would secure the release of all the remaining hostages together with security assurances for Israel and relief for the innocent civilians in Gaza.”
“This deal has the full backing of the United States and has been endorsed by countries from around the world, including the G7, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, UAE, and Qatar, as well as the sixteen countries with their citizens still being held by Hamas. They all must be released — now,” Sullivan says.
