White House: Biden raised issue of US hostages held in Gaza during meeting with Trump

US President Joe Biden raised the issue of the American hostages in Gaza during his Oval Office meeting earlier today with President-elect Donald Trump, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan says.

The current administration has also sent a “signal” to the Trump transition team that it is prepared to collaborate in order to secure a hostage deal, Sullivan says during a press briefing.

The top Biden aide says the American hostage families urged such collaboration when he met with them yesterday, adding that his answer to them was an “emphatic yes,” adding that the current administration will use every day it has left in order to return the hostages home to their loved ones.

Asked whether the US has found Israel to be as receptive to its requests following Trump’s election win last week, Sullivan says constructive discussions have continued, including one he held yesterday with Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer. The pair discussed boosting the amount of humanitarian aid getting into Gaza given to alleviate “the suffering of the innocent civilians there who are trapped amidst the crossfire between the IDF and the terrorist group Hamas,” along with efforts to secure ceasefires in Gaza and Lebanon.

Sullivan says the US secured additional commitments from the Israeli side over the course of the past several days regarding additional steps to increase Gaza aid and will be watching closely to ensure follow-through.

Pressed on the most pressing national security issue facing the US, Sullivan names the threat posed by Iran and its proxies behind Washington’s competition with China.