White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the Biden administration is working closely with the incoming Trump administration to secure a hostage release deal in Gaza. This is reported by UNN with reference to the Times of Israel.
"The American people have every right to expect that we will make sure the new team is fully informed, and if we don't get this deal done before we leave, then when they walk through the door at noon on January 20, they can hit the ground running and try to close it for themselves," Kirby said during a press briefing.
However, Kirby clarifies that the current administration is at the negotiating table, and White House Middle East coordinator Brett McGurk currently represents the US in the negotiations in the Qatari capital Doha.
Meanwhile, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said that Joe Biden plans to have a phone conversation with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "in the near future" to discuss the ongoing hostage release negotiations.
"We're very, very close (to a Gaza deal) and still far away, because we're not there. Maybe it can be done by January 20, but I can't be sure," Sullivan said.
Recall
Donald Trump warned of an unprecedented US military response if hostages in the Middle East are not released by January 20, 2025. The statement came after HAMAS published a video with an American-Israeli hostage.