President Joe Biden holds an event about American retirement economics in the State Dining Room at the White House in Washington, US, October 31, 2023. (REUTERS/Leah Millis/File photo)

“Hang in there, we’re coming,” Biden said at the White House, when asked by reporters what his message to family members of hostages would be. 

Biden said he speaks every day with the parties involved in negotiations over a possible hostage release, but did not want to share the details. 

Hamas fighters surged across the border from Gaza into Israel on October 7, killing about 1,200 people and taking around 240 hostages, according to Israeli officials. Only four hostages have been released to date. 

In a White House statement on Sunday, Biden “unequivocally” condemned the holding of hostages by Hamas, including many young children, one of whom is a 3-year old American citizen whose parents were killed by the group on October 7. 

The Israeli bombardment of Gaza has killed more than 11,000 Palestinians, around 40% of them children, according to counts by health officials in the Hamas-ruled territory.