The U.S. State Department held a flag-raising ceremony Thursday for hostages and prisoners wrongfully held in other countries. The ceremony reaffirmed Washington's commitment to securing the return of American citizens and lawful permanent residents detained abroad.
"Our policies are 100% focused on their return," said Adam Boehler, President Donald Trump's special envoy for the hostages. "There will be developments in the coming days," he said, without giving details.
"President Trump is committed to the release of all Americans held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad. This includes Americans and all other hostages still being held by Hamas in Gaza," a State Department spokesperson told VOA.
"Efforts to bring them home are ongoing and sensitive. At the moment we have no announcements of meetings," the spokesman said.
March 9 marks the 18th anniversary of the kidnapping of former FBI agent Robert Levinson in Iran. On this occasion, with bipartisan support, Congress symbolically designated the 'Hostage and Wrongfully Imprisoned Flag.'
FBI Director Kash Patel said Thursday that Washington is determined to pursue efforts to free hostages and prisoners unjustly held, as well as to repatriate the remains of those who have not been able to be brought home, through diplomatic and intelligence efforts.
A day earlier, President Trump hosted eight former hostages held by the terrorist group Hamas at the White House. On Wednesday, the White House confirmed that U.S. officials are engaged in ongoing discussions with Hamas. The talks, held in Qatar, mark the first direct engagement between the United States and Hamas since the State Department designated the group a foreign terrorist organization in 1997.
Adam Boehler, President Donald Trump's special envoy for the hostages, led the direct talks with Hamas, which reportedly focused on securing the release of American hostages and exploring a possible end to the war in Gaza without Hamas in power.
Among the hostages still being held by Hamas, five are American citizens, including 21-year-old Edan Alexander, who is believed to be the last American-Israeli hostage still alive in Gaza.
His mother, Yael Alexander, recently spoke at 'Hostage Square' in Tel Aviv. "The simple truth is that the hostage situation is becoming more urgent every day," she said.
"They are working on phase two. We don't see it as a phase, but as a way to bring our son home. It doesn't matter what you call it. What matters is that there is an agreement to bring the remaining hostages home as soon as possible," she said.
This week, Israeli officials said they are ready to move forward with the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal, provided Hamas agrees to release more of the 59 hostages it is still holding./ VOA (A2 Televizion)
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