The U.S. State Department held a flag-raising ceremony on Thursday to honor hostages and unjustly detained Americans abroad. The event reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to securing the return of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents held in foreign countries.
“Our policies are 100% focused on bringing them home,” said Adam Boehler, President Donald Trump’s special envoy for hostages. He hinted at upcoming developments but did not provide details.
A State Department spokesperson told Voice of America that President Trump is committed to freeing all Americans held hostage or unjustly detained abroad. This includes U.S. citizens and hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza.
Efforts to secure their return are ongoing and highly sensitive, the spokesperson added. However, there are no immediate announcements regarding negotiations.
Congress Recognizes National Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Flag
March 9 marks 18 years since former FBI agent Robert Levinson was abducted in Iran. In his honor, Congress symbolically designated the “Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Flag,” emphasizing bipartisan support for the issue.
FBI Director Kash Patel stated that Washington remains committed to securing the release of all hostages and wrongfully detained individuals. The U.S. is also working to repatriate the remains of those who could not be brought home through diplomatic and intelligence efforts.
Direct U.S.-Hamas Talks in Qatar
On Wednesday, President Trump welcomed eight former hostages previously held by Hamas to the White House. The Biden administration confirmed ongoing discussions with Hamas in Qatar, marking the first direct engagement between the U.S. and the group since it was designated a foreign terrorist organization in 1997.
Special Envoy Adam Boehler led these direct talks, reportedly focusing on securing the release of American hostages and exploring a possible end to the war in Gaza without Hamas remaining in power.
Among the remaining hostages held by Hamas, five are American citizens, including 21-year-old Edan Alexander, believed to be the last surviving American-Israeli hostage in Gaza.
His mother, Yael Alexander, recently spoke at the “Hostage Square” in Tel Aviv, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. “The reality is that every day, the situation for the hostages becomes more critical,” she said.
Israel’s Second-Phase Ceasefire Plan
This week, Israeli officials announced readiness to move forward with the second phase of a ceasefire deal in Gaza—on the condition that Hamas agrees to release more of the 59 remaining hostages in its custody.
