In a statement posted on social media platform X, Haley highlighted, “Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an American citizen, was executed in Gaza. Seven Americans are still held hostage by the same terrorists who killed Hersh.”
She continued, “This is unacceptable. The U.S. should demand the immediate release of hostages from Hamas and its sponsors, Iran. Harris and Biden need to recognize Hamas as a terrorist group and act accordingly, rather than pressuring Israel.”
Earlier, Haley also called for sanctions against Iran due to its support for groups like Hamas. She shared a video of Goldberg-Polin’s funeral, posted by his mother, Rachel, and asked, “How many more funerals before Harris and Biden take strong action and reinstate sanctions on Iran? Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis—none of these terror groups take this administration seriously. Cut off their funding to stop the horror.”
Haley’s comments follow Biden’s recent remark that he does not believe Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has done enough to secure a hostage deal, and his response of “no” when questioned on the matter.
The White House later stated that after a meeting with the U.S. hostage negotiation team, “President Biden expressed his devastation and outrage over the murder of the six hostages and stressed the need to hold Hamas’s leaders accountable.”
Biden has been advocating for a ceasefire and hostage release agreement proposed in May, but Hamas has consistently rejected these offers.
On Motzoei Shabbos, Biden expressed optimism about a potential agreement, stating, “It’s time this war ended…I think we’re on the verge of having an agreement.” He added, “We think we can close the deal; they’ve all agreed on the principles.”
However, discussions in Cairo last Sunday about a ceasefire and hostage release ended without an agreement, according to two Egyptian security sources.