White House Describes Talks on Hamas Hostage Deal as Constructive and Promising, According to Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The White House announced on Monday that recent discussions aimed at securing the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza have been constructive and promising, although significant work remains.

This series of negotiations involved CIA Director William Burns and U.S. Middle East envoy Brett McGurk, focusing on the hostages’ release and a humanitarian pause in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.

White House national security spokesman John Kirby described the talks as "constructive" during an appearance on CNN. He expressed optimism about the potential for another hostage deal, which could facilitate the release of more captives, allow for increased aid, and help de-escalate violence.

Efforts by U.S. President Joe Biden to facilitate the release of over 100 hostages, taken during the deadly attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7, continue. Burns met with key figures, including the head of Israel’s Mossad intelligence service, Qatar’s prime minister, and the head of Egyptian intelligence, in talks that Israel characterized as constructive despite notable differences.

Kirby indicated that discussions with Qatari, Egyptian, and Israeli officials have been productive. "We’re not over the finish line right yet," he stated on CNN. "But we feel pretty good about the discussions and where they’re going and the promise of something potentially pretty significant."

Israeli officials report that around 1,200 people were killed and 253 were abducted during Hamas’s cross-border assault on October 7. This attack triggered Israel’s military response aimed at dismantling Hamas, resulting in extensive airstrikes on Gaza that have devastated the region and led to reports of over 26,000 Palestinian fatalities, according to health officials.

Tensions across the Middle East have escalated since Israel launched its offensive, with attacks on U.S. and other targets by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi forces disrupting global shipping routes in the Red Sea.

In a severe turn of events, three U.S. service members were killed and at least 34 wounded in a drone strike carried out by Iran-backed militants targeting U.S. troops in northeastern Jordan near the Syrian border, as reported by U.S. officials on Sunday.