On Monday, President Joe Biden mistakenly claimed he had spoken to an American hostage who was found dead in a Hamas tunnel over the weekend. The statement has added to a series of uncomfortable gaffes made by the president in recent months.
During a press conference, Biden was asked if he had any messages for the families of six hostages who were discovered dead in a Hamas tunnel by the Israel Defense Forces on Saturday. Among the victims was Israeli American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who had been held captive for nearly 11 months after being abducted from a music festival on October 7th.
In response to the question, Biden said, “I’ve spoken to the American hostage,” seemingly referring to Goldberg-Polin. He then added, “I spoke to his mom and dad, and we’re not giving up. We’re going to continue to push as hard as we can.
The White House did not respond to a request for clarification on which hostage Biden was referencing. However, the president did speak with Goldberg-Polin’s family on Sunday, after he had been identified as one of the hostages discovered dead in the tunnel.
Goldberg-Polin’s family released a statement expressing their devastation and outrage over the tragic incident. They also met with President Biden, who shared his grief and admiration for the family’s resilience during this difficult time. The president vowed that “Hamas leaders will pay for these crimes.
As protests erupt in Israel, citizens are demanding their government prioritize securing a hostage deal with Hamas. On October 7th, more than 250 hostages were taken from Israel into Gaza during the deadly Hamas attacks and abductions. In November, Israel and Hamas participated in a prisoner exchange that saw 105 hostages returned to their home country. It is estimated that approximately 101 hostages remain in captivity in the Gaza Strip.
During an interview with reporters outside the White House, President Biden expressed his hope for a “swift and just resolution” to the Israel hostage situation. He also criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for not doing enough to secure a deal with Hamas. However, he remains hopeful that an agreement will be reached soon.
Upon returning from a two-week vacation in California and Delaware, President Biden met with his national security team to discuss the ongoing Israel hostage crisis. He is also expected to attend a campaign event with Vice President Kamala Harris in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Monday afternoon.
