US push for release of hostages delays Israeli ground war, but won’t stop it
- Israel and the United States demand unconditional release of those held by Hamas
- Israel says it won’t wait long to start ground manoeuvres to destroy militant group
04:13
Families plead with Israeli president for safe and immediate return of hostages held by Hamas
Israel supports diplomatic efforts to get Hamas to release hostages from Gaza quickly and in large numbers, a move that could delay and possibly alter its ground war, according to people familiar with the negotiations.
The US is pushing the wealthy Gulf state, which hosts some political leaders of Hamas, to do much more, the people said.
Israel says there are 210 known hostages from many countries taken on October 7, when Hamas operatives broke through the border fence into Israel in an attack that killed more than 1,400 Israelis.
In retaliation, Israel has been bombing Gaza for two weeks. The death toll from the air strikes has risen to more than 4,600, the Hamas-run Ministry of Health in Gaza said on Sunday.