THE AMERICA ONE NEWS
Jun 2, 2025  |  
0
 | Remer,MN
Sponsor:  QWIKET 
Sponsor:  QWIKET 
Sponsor:  QWIKET: Elevate your fantasy game! Interactive Sports Knowledge.
Sponsor:  QWIKET: Elevate your fantasy game! Interactive Sports Knowledge and Reasoning Support for Fantasy Sports and Betting Enthusiasts.
back  
topic
Mike Brest, Defense Reporter


NextImg:Biden administration unsure if two remaining US women will be freed from Hamas on Monday

The Biden administration is unsure if the two American women held hostage by Hamas in Gaza will be released on Monday.

Israel and Hamas are on the verge of completing the agreed-upon ceasefire and hostage exchange, which, through the first three days, included the release of 58 hostages from Hamas in exchange for the release of 117 Palestinian women and teenagers from Israeli prisons.

NORTH KOREA SATELLITE LAUNCH PORTENDS NEW ERA OF RUSSIA GIVING TECH TO ROGUE REGIMES

National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications John Kirby said on CNN Monday morning the administration doesn't know if the two remaining American women will be among the last group of hostages set to be released later that day.

"We'll have a better sense, I think, later on this morning who's going to be in this next batch coming out today," Kirby said. "We obviously hope that those two American women are on that list and will be reunited with their families today. That's certainly our hope."

On Sunday, 4-year-old Abigail Edan, an American Israeli, was released from Hamas. Edan, whose parents were murdered in the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks that ignited the war, was the first American to be freed since the ceasefire commenced.

The agreement, which was brokered with the assistance of the U.S., Qatari, and Egyptian governments, only stipulates the release of women and children from Hamas. Officials believe seven other American men, in addition to the two American women, are being held hostage among roughly 200 others.

The parties involved have expressed cautious optimism about the possibility of extending the ceasefire, which Israel said was a possibility if Hamas continued releasing hostages. Israeli officials said they would extend the ceasefire one day for every 10 hostages released.

Hamas is not the only terrorist group in Gaza holding hostages.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

"We also are aware that it's not just Hamas holding hostages," national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Meet the Press on Sunday. "Palestinian Islamic Jihad, another terrorist group that participated in the brutal massacre on Oct. 7, is holding some. And other groups who are not directly affiliated but have loose connections to Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad are also holding hostages."

Kirby said the "onus is on Hamas" to release the hostages, even those held by other groups.