Biden to meet with families of Americans held hostage by Hamas

President Biden will meet with family members of American hostages being held by Hamas on Wednesday, a White House official confirmed to The Hill.

The meeting will take place at the White House, and the official did not specify which family members will be included in it. Four American hostages taken by Hamas during the deadly Oct. 7 attacks on Israel have been released so far.

Liat Atzili, an Israeli American, and 4-year-old Abigail Idan were released last month during the temporary cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. Before that, an American mother and daughter were released.

Hamas took more than 240 hostages on Oct. 7, and several Americans are still unaccounted for in the region. The Wednesday meeting will be the first in-person meeting Biden has with families of those taken hostage, but he has spoken over Zoom with a group. 

Other top officials, including national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Vice President Harris, have met with families. Biden first spoke with family members of 14 Americans unaccounted for soon after the attack, on Oct. 13.

The president and top officials have stressed their focus on getting American hostages released, especially women and children.