‘Time is running out’: Family members of Israeli-American hostages meet with Biden’s top advisers at the White House

CNN —

The family members of the six remaining Israeli-American hostages believed to have been kidnapped by Hamas met with several of President Joe Biden’s top national security advisers at the White House on Thursday, more than 100 days since their loved ones were taken captive.

Ruby Chen – the father of 19-year-old reservist Itay, who has been missing since October 7 – told CNN that the conversation was “informative,” and that officials offered them the “broad strokes” of the ongoing efforts to secure the release of the missing Americans. Chen declined to share those details.

As engaged as members of the Biden administration and Congress have been with the families of the American hostages, Chen said, the frustration and anxiety is only mounting by the day.

“Bottom line, it’s been 104 days and that’s a disappointment and a frustration,” Chen said. “Where’s justice? And do we want more dead US citizens? What is the administration doing about that?”

Administration officials participating in Thursday’s meeting included national security adviser Jake Sullivan, White House Middle East coordinator Brett McGurk and deputy homeland security adviser Jen Daskal, according to a White House official. In the meeting, Sullivan expressed his and Biden’s commitment to bringing the Americans home, and the families in return expressed deep concern about the fact that their loved ones have now been missing for more than 100 days, the official said.

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Related video White House official meets with families of Americans held hostage by Hamas

The White House “committed to unwavering effort to get family members home,” the official added.

Chen said it was