Biden needs to put Hamas's American hostages before politics

For more than 200 days, 128 people have been held captive by Hamas, brutally taken from Israel. These hostages represent over 17 nationalities, including five Americans as well as citizens from Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Thailand, and the United Kingdom.

Last month, these nations released a joint statement calling for the immediate release of these hostages. But Hamas continues to stall. And given the global geopolitical context, what is Yahya Sinwar’s motivation for meeting their demands?

After spending last week in Israel witnessing firsthand the devastation of Oct. 7 and the lasting effects of the ongoing hostage crisis, it is difficult to grasp how U.S. foreign policy is being conducted on this issue.

With each day that passes, the likelihood for the return of these loved ones to their families diminishes. While the vast majority of Americans stand in solidarity with the families who are suffering, the Biden administration’s actions to date suggest that securing the release of American victims of Hamas is not a policy priority, which only emboldens Sinwar’s position.

What can our leaders do to affect the release of these hostages? The answer is quite simple: Support Israel and pressure Hamas.

First, President Biden should acknowledge his responsibility to the American citizens who are being held hostage. They should be at the top of his policy priority list, not buried in the ninth point of a ten-point White House briefing on policy toward the Middle East, as we saw on May 13. 

Second, Biden’s actions must align with that priority. The hostages are Sinwar’s leverage to survive Israel’s justified response to a huge terrorist massacre against civilians. U.S. actions and statements that give Sinwar confidence he may survive, even without giving up hostages, guarantee that Hamas will keep holding our hostages. Why would Sinwar give up his leverage if our own president is willing to help him achieve his objective via unilateral pressure on Israel?

With American hostages as his first responsibility, Biden must unequivocally stand by Israel, not criticize, hamper, and marginalize its effort to bring home all the hostages. Most recently, the U.S. paused the shipment of over 3,500 bombs to Israel and threatened sanctions against a unit of the Israel Defense Force. Public opposition to a campaign to eliminate Hamas infrastructure in Rafah gives Sinwar all the hope he needs to hold out longer.

A clear-eyed view of why Israel is pushing into Rafah and the continuous work they have undertaken to minimize the humanitarian impact of the conflict should be articulated by the Biden Administration. Indeed, the Israeli military has expended tremendous energy coordinating the clearance of hundreds of aid trucks per day, restoring water and electricity across parts of Gaza, only to experience one letdown after another due to Sinwar’s bad-faith negotiations.

The latitude for Hamas’ disingenuous behavior in negotiations has been fueled by wavering support and open condemnation of Israel by its greatest ally, the United States. President Biden and his Administration have placed election politics and a poor interpretation of the extreme left flank of their party above their responsibility to American citizens. As a result, Sinwar feels emboldened. At the same time, one also must consider the role of social media apps like TikTok whose algorithm is disproportionally propagating messages of support for Palestinians and Hamas and spreading antisemitic disinformation about Israel. The propaganda arm of the CCP continues to weaken societal bonds while promoting false narratives.

Let us never forget that Hamas is a brutal terrorist organization, not a legitimate negotiating partner. A group that tortured and massacred women and children in the most brutal ways possible will never negotiate in good faith.

One viable path for Israel to free the hostages is to maximize pressure on Sinwar by going into Rafah and conducting its operation to eradicate Hamas. Tightening the noose around Sinwar and forcing him back to the negotiating table showed signs of success earlier this week.

Biden needs to look in the mirror and remember who he serves. Americans have been taken hostage by a terror organization during an unprovoked invasion of an allied nation. His job is not an easy one — it requires courage and moral conviction and clarity, something Barack Obama has publicly asserted as a defining reason for his support of Biden.

Biden must commit himself and his administration to bringing home and returning American hostages to their families by standing by Israel instead of undermining it. The alternative is to keep playing both sides of the issue for political purposes, allowing American hostages to die in Hamas's custody.

Brian Cavanaugh served as special assistant to the president and senior director for resilience in both the Trump and Biden administrations. He is senior vice president of American Global Strategies.