President Biden says he will not consider backing a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war until all hostages kidnapped by Hamas are released. This includes approximately 200 hostages from Gaza, including Americans. Some liberal Democrats in Congress have urged Biden to facilitate a ceasefire, while the State Department rejected the idea of an early ceasefire, arguing it would hurt Israel's ability to defend itself from continued terrorist threats from Hamas. Hamas has recently released two American women hostages, a mother and daughter, and two Israeli women hostages.