No indication Hamas using US hostages in Gaza as leverage: White House

By Servet Gunerigok

WASHINGTON (AA) - The White House said Tuesday there is no evidence to suggest that Hamas is attempting to use any form of leverage to hinder the departure of Americans from Gaza.

"There's no indication at all that Hamas is trying to use leverage or something to keep Americans from getting out," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Denver, Colorado.

He said the pool of Americans in the hands of Hamas is "pretty small," and the pool of Americans that qualify right now (for release), women and children, is smaller.

"We can't just assume that Hamas has ready access to everybody in a moment's notice, or that all the Americans are being held by Hamas, and certainly not that they're in the same place," he added.

On the first day of an additional two-day truce to swap hostages between Israel and Hamas, 12 people -- 10 Israelis and two Thais -- were released. The deal was announced on Monday.

"No Americans, unfortunately, got out today, but we're hopeful. Tomorrow's another day," Kirby said.

There are reportedly eight or nine Americans still being held hostage.

Kirby also reiterated the US stance on possible Israeli operations in southern Gaza.

"We don't support southern operations, unless or until the Israelis can show that they have accounted for all the internally displaced people of Gaza," he said.

The US is urging Israel not to replicate the mass displacement of Palestinians that resulted from its invasion of the northern Gaza Strip when it pursues its campaign in the south of the coastal enclave.

Israel launched a massive military campaign in the Gaza Strip following a cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7.

It has since killed over 15,000 people, including 6,150 children and 4,000 women, according to health authorities in the enclave.

The official Israeli death toll stands at 1,200.