Families of US hostages held by Hamas have pressed the White House to seriously consider bypassing Israel and cutting a unilateral deal with Hamas for their release, Anadolu reports according to US media.

Discussions of this option are currently underway within the Biden administration, as reported by NBC television, citing five unnamed sources familiar with the matter. The administration is considering options that exclude Israel, according to sources.

Officials told the families that they are committed to exploring “every option,” but indicated that a deal involving both Hamas and Israel remains the best approach.

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