Walz meets with families of hostages held by Hamas

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the Democratic vice presidential nominee, met Thursday with the families of Americans being held hostage in Gaza by Hamas, the Harris campaign said.

Walz listened to the stories of the families and offered his support, the campaign said. The governor emphasized he and Vice President Harris would do everything possible to secure their release, as well as the release of the remains of hostages who have been killed by Hamas.

The governor reaffirmed his and Harris’s commitment to Israel’s security. Walz also discussed the Biden administration’s ongoing efforts to broker a cease-fire between Hamas and Israel and a deal to release all remaining hostages, the campaign said.

Axios first reported on the meeting.

Walz’s meeting with the families of American hostages came the same day that leaders of the Uncommitted National Movement said the group would not endorse Harris for the White House, but it made clear its opposition to former President Trump or third-party candidates.

The movement emerged during this year’s Democratic presidential primaries, when President Biden was running largely unopposed for his party’s nomination.

Biden and Harris have drawn criticism for their handling of the war in Gaza, with critics urging them to condition or halt military support for Israel as thousands of Palestinians have been killed in the war. The conflict began last October after Hamas fighters killed more than 1,000 Israelis.