The Biden administration has confirmed that Americans are among those being held hostage by Hamas. President Biden has made securing the release of any American hostages his "highest priority." National security advisor Jake Sullivan stated that 20 or more Americans remain unaccounted for in Gaza. Still, the administration does not know if all of those individuals are actually being detained by Hamas. Israel's UN ambassador estimates that Hamas is holding between 100-150 total hostages, including civilians and soldiers. The US is working to identify if any Americans may be among this larger group of detainees. Experts say Hamas likely sees more value in holding hostages than releasing them, making negotiations difficult. A failed negotiation or Israeli ground operation could put the hostages' lives at greater risk.
