US State Department: Hostage Deal ‘Close’ but Gaza Aid Should Not Be Tied to Any Deal

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller says it has always been the US's position that humanitarian aid should not be contingent on any hostage release deal, although a deal would unlock the potential for more assistance

As the Israeli government works to finalize a deal to free at least some of the hostages being held in the Gaza Strip since the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas terrorists, the US State Department has said that humanitarian aid to Gaza should not be tied to any deal.

“It has always been the position of the United States that we do not need a hostage deal [for humanitarian aid to be provided],” US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters at a press conference on Tuesday. “There shouldn’t … that to get more aid in, that more fuel, more food, more water, more medicine, should not be contingent on a hostage agreement being reached. We thought that the delivery of humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian people was important in its own right and that’s why the Secretary [of State Antony Blinken] has been pushing for it. It’s why the President [Joe Biden] has been pushing for it.”

It has been clear that for some time that an agreement on hostages would release or would unlock the potential for delivery of more humanitarian assistance so we’re hopeful that that would take place

The proposed hostage deal would see around 50 women and children, out of almost 240 hostages, being released in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, none of them convicted murderers, as well as a four-day cease-fire. About 32 of the hostages are children, including 10-month-old Kfir Bibas and his 4-year-old brother Ariel, who were abducted with their mother Shiri. It was also recently announced that one hostage, who was heavily pregnant when abducted, had given birth in captivity.

“It has been clear that for some time that an agreement on hostages would release or would unlock the potential for delivery of more humanitarian assistance so we’re hopeful that that would take place. But, again, it has always been our position that the two don’t need to be linked, that humanitarian assistance should be delivered as quickly as possible for the benefit of the Palestinian people,” Miller said.

“The Israeli cabinet is meeting to discuss this matter right now. We are in close conversation with them, as we are with the government of Qatar, which has been helping facilitate discussions since the early days of the crisis. … I don’t want to get into the full details. I will say that, of course, the implementation and execution of an agreement—should one be reached—requires the cooperation of Hamas, a terrorist organization, so it’s why we’re always hesitant to say too much about what will happen before it has happened. But we are close to an agreement, hopeful one can be reached.”

Asked whether he had received any updates about the conditions or whereabouts of the hostages, Miller said, “I can’t get too much into the underlying details. It has always been our assessment that Hamas may not have control of all of these hostages, but beyond that I just don’t want to speak to any specific details.”

It is unknown how many of the hostages are being held by Hamas and how many by other groups or individuals. Earlier today, the Islamic Jihad terrorist group announced the death of hostage Hannah Katzir, 77, and blamed Israel for “procrastinating.” Katzir had been seen in videos circulated by Islamic Jihad earlier this month, in which the group promised to release her when certain conditions were met.

“I miss my home, my children, my husband Rami, and all my dear family. I am sending regards, telling you I love you. I hope I will succeed in seeing you next week,” Katzir said in the video.

Sara Netanyahu, the wife of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has been lobbying for the safe return of the captive children and recently wrote to first lady Jill Biden, “first and foremost as a mother.” She wrote that the children “are surely suffering from untold trauma, not only by being kidnapped but having witnessed the brutal murder of their parents and siblings.”