A senior Biden administration official told 'The Jerusalem Post' that the US will pursue several initiatives to ensure the release of the hostages.

Qatar has withdrawn as a key mediator for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal and warned Hamas that its Doha office ‘no longer serves its purpose’, a diplomatic source has said. The country has also told the terror group to leave the country, after the US complained they should not be able to seek refuge in the Gulf country.