Washington CNN —President Joe Biden’s national security adviser Jake Sullivan convened for the first time this week an in-person meeting of ambassadors and chiefs of mission representing countries whose citizens were taken hostage by Hamas on October 7, CNN has learned, as a ceasefire and hostages release deal remains stalled.
Those 17 countries, along with the United States, have citizens whom Hamas took captive at the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war.
The meeting comes at a critical moment when the efforts to secure the release of hostages and Gaza ceasefire appear to have stalled once again.
Multiple US diplomats have told CNN in recent weeks that they are consistently hearing those concerns from their counterparts abroad.
Still, the White House has also been clear that the US remains a steadfast supporter of Israel, including its right to defend itself.
Persons:
Joe Biden’s, Jake Sullivan, Sullivan, Israel, “, ” Sullivan, Biden, ”, CNN’s Erin Burnett
Organizations:
Washington CNN, CNN, Hamas, Qatar –, United Nations, Israel, White
Locations:
Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States, Israel, Gaza, Egypt, Qatar, Rafah