United States National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan claimed on Monday that Hamas is "refusing to release civilian women" from captivity.
The female hostages should have been part of the previous agreement between the conflicting sides, Sullivan told reporters at the White House, adding that Hamas's refusal to allow the remaining civilian women to leave Gaza is what resulted in the end of the humanitarian pause in the region.
The US, Israel, Qatar and Egypt are discussing "how to best get traction on a strategy that will get all the hostages out," he noted but pointed out that US citizens are a "paramount priority" for Washington.
