Hillary Clinton meets with family of Hamas-held hostages, blames Netanyahu

Former first lady Hillary Clinton has told the families of the Hamas-Held hostages that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could be to blame for the lack of release of their family members.

Clinton asserted to the grieving families that Netanyahu is actually focused on politics instead of freeing their loved ones being held by the terrorist group in Gaza, as the New York Post reported.

The hostages were taken by an emboldened terrorist group that has gained a growing footing in the Middle East through several administrations, including the Clinton administration, and also when Hillary Clinton was secretary of State under former President Barack Obama.

The families and those in the meeting later spoke out about the plight of their loved ones and what the former first lady recommended leaving questions about the political motivations of the meeting itself.

About the Meeting

Haaretz reports that the former secretary of State directed the allegation at Netanyahu, 74, during a Wednesday meeting at Columbia University with sixteen children and siblings of some of the over a hundred detainees who continue to be held in Palestinian territory.

According to reports, Clinton, 76, urged family members to increase the pressure on the Israeli government to reach an agreement with Hamas militants that would allow more hostages to be released from Gaza.

Netanyahu was additionally accused of prioritizing "politics and his personal survival" over negotiating the release of hostages, in her statement.

Clinton's Comments

“As long as the hostages are not the main and primary target for Israel, then everything that I or President Biden say or do is of little value,” Clinton said, according to sources who spoke with Ynet News.

Additionally, the former Democratic presidential candidate informed family members that while the Biden administration was striving to achieve a "Christmas deal" that would result in the release of additional hostages, the ultimate determination of the deal rested with Hamas and the Israeli government.

It is believed that eight Americans are among the 132 detainees that Hamas has been holding since its deadly attack on the Jewish state on Oct. 7.

Hamas facilitated the release of over a hundred individuals throughout the period of a temporary ceasefire with Israel that lasted from Nov. 24 to Dec. 1.

“The work that the families and the forum does is so important and influential," Clinton reportedly told the families of the hostages. "You need to keep doing it. Put pressure on all the players involved."

Hamas officials said Thursday they would not discuss any hostage exchange deal “except after a full cessation of aggression.”