US expects 4-year-old Israeli-American hostage in Gaza will be released

BY SARAH FORTINSKY

© Greg Nash

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on Sunday that he is “hopeful” that four-year-old Israeli-American hostage Abigail Idan will be released at some point, but would not specify the timing of such release.

“We are now hopeful that Abigail will be released reunited with her family,” Sullivan said. “She turned four just two days ago. She has been through hell. She had her parents killed right in front of her and has been held hostage for the last several weeks.

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Qatari PM says pause in Israel-Hamas fighting could be extended if more hostages released

BY  LAUREN SFORZA

Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Muhammad bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said Sunday that a pause in fighting between Israel and Hamas could be extended if the militant group releases more hostages than was agreed upon days earlier in a deal in which a total of 50 people are expected to be released.

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10 American hostages remain in Gaza, US says

BY LAUREN SFORZA

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said 10 American hostages remain in Gaza as of Sunday, and that three of them qualify for release under the latest deal because they are women and children as anticipation builds for more hostages to be freed this weekend.

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Sullivan dodges question on whether there will be restrictions on aid to Israel

BY LAUREN SFORZA

CBS’s Margaret Brennan asked Sullivan about President Biden’s response to a question on some Democrats’ calls to put conditions on military aid to Israel, where he said it was a “worthwhile thought.” Sullivan clarified Biden’s comments, explaining that Biden emphasized how his own diplomacy helped secure the hostage deal and the pause in fighting.

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Qatar says location of Hamas leader thought to have planned Oct. 7 attack is unknown

BY LAUREN SFORZA

Qatar’s prime minister said Sunday that the location of the Hamas leader believed to have planned the Oct. 7 attack in Israel is currently unknown, saying that information was likely only known by those close to him.

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Christie concedes some credit to Biden, while criticizing deal as ‘lopsided’ toward Hamas

BY SARAH FORTINSKY

“Look, I think that any time there’s return of hostages, that’s incredibly helpful. And President Biden and his administration has played a role in it, so they deserve credit,” Christie said on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “But, also, the terms of this release are really lopsided towards Hamas, as you know, three to one, in terms of hostage release and this pause that’s going on as well.”

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Sullivan: US expects at least one American hostage will be released from Hamas Sunday

BY LAUREN SFORZA 

“At least one American will be released today. I cannot confirm who it will be, or that it will absolutely happen because until we see that American out of Gaza, in safety and ultimately in the hands of their loved ones, we won’t have full confirmation,” Sullivan told CBS’s Margaret Brennan on Sunday’s “Face the Nation.”

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Christie slams ‘math’ behind suggestion of supporting Haley-Christie consolidation

BY SARAH FORTINSKY

“This idea of people just doing math and adding up numbers, that’s not the way voters vote,” in an interview Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “And, so, I would say to everybody out there: Let’s let the campaign move forward.”

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