The United States and 17 other countries on Thursday appealed to Hamas to release the hostages as a way to end the crisis in Gaza.
“We call for the immediate release of all hostages held by Hamas in Gaza for more than 200 days,” the countries said in a statement, which a senior US official called a remarkable picture of unanimity.
Those 18 countries have nationals held by Hamas six months after the Palestinian militant group launched an attack on southern Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 people.
The signatories are the leaders of the United States, Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Thailand and Great Britain.
“We emphasize that the deal on the table for the release of the hostages would lead to an immediate and prolonged ceasefire in Gaza, which would allow a wave of additional needed humanitarian aid to be delivered across Gaza, and lead to a credible end to hostilities,” the statement said.
A senior US official, briefing reporters on the statement, said there could be a path to an agreement on the hostage crisis, but that he was not entirely convinced.
He did not elaborate, but said the solution depends on “one man,” Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
