By — News Desk News Desk Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-live-state-department-holds-news-briefing-as-blinken-attends-apec-meeting-in-san-francisco Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter WATCH: Hostage negotiations ‘top priority’ for State Department, spokesperson says Politics Updated on Nov 15, 2023 12:19 PM EDT — Published on Nov 14, 2023 12:04 PM EDT Ongoing negotiations over hostages in Gaza are “a top priority” for Secretary of State Antony Blinken, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said Tuesday at a news briefing. Watch the full event in the player above. “We are always hopeful that we will be able to secure the release of, not just, first and foremost, the American citizens but all of the hostages that are held. Certainly all the civilian hostages, the women and children who have now been prisoners for more than a month,” Miller said. READ MORE: Palestinian authorities call for cease-fire to evacuate patients and newborns from Gaza’s largest hospital “As long as there is a possibility to bring them home, we will work to do it.” He refused to discuss the “underlying details” that cause officials to think rescuing the hostages is possible. Ten Americans are among the more than 240 hostages taken when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing more than 1,200 people. Since then, four hostages have been rescued, including two Americans. More than 11,200 Palestinians have been killed in the 39-day war. Around two-thirds of the Palestinians killed were women and children. We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now By — News Desk News Desk
Ongoing negotiations over hostages in Gaza are “a top priority” for Secretary of State Antony Blinken, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said Tuesday at a news briefing. Watch the full event in the player above. “We are always hopeful that we will be able to secure the release of, not just, first and foremost, the American citizens but all of the hostages that are held. Certainly all the civilian hostages, the women and children who have now been prisoners for more than a month,” Miller said. READ MORE: Palestinian authorities call for cease-fire to evacuate patients and newborns from Gaza’s largest hospital “As long as there is a possibility to bring them home, we will work to do it.” He refused to discuss the “underlying details” that cause officials to think rescuing the hostages is possible. Ten Americans are among the more than 240 hostages taken when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing more than 1,200 people. Since then, four hostages have been rescued, including two Americans. More than 11,200 Palestinians have been killed in the 39-day war. Around two-thirds of the Palestinians killed were women and children. We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now