Biden needs to put Hamas’ American hostages above politics.

128 people have been held captive by Hamas for more than 200 days after being brutally removed from Israel. The hostages are from more than 17 countries, including five Americans, as well as citizens of Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Thailand, and the United Kingdom. It is included.

Last month, these countries issued a joint statement calling for the immediate release of the hostages. But Hamas continues to stall. And given the global geopolitical context, what is Yahya Sinwar’s motivation for meeting their demands?

After being in Israel last week and witnessing firsthand the effects of the Oct. 7 tragedy and the ongoing hostage crisis, it is difficult to understand how U.S. foreign policy is operating on this issue.

As each day passes, it becomes less likely that these loved ones will be reunited with their families. Although the majority of Americans stand in solidarity with suffering families, the Biden administration’s actions so far suggest that securing the release of Hamas’ American victims is not a policy priority, and this only strengthens Shinwar’s position.

What can our leaders do to achieve the release of these hostages? The answer is quite simple. To support Israel and put pressure on Hamas.

First, President Biden should accept responsibility for the American people held hostage. As we saw on May 13, these should be at the top of the president’s list of policy priorities, not buried at number nine in a 10-point White House briefing on Middle East policy.

Second, Biden’s actions must align with his priorities. The hostages are Sinwar’s lever to survive Israel’s legitimate response to the massive terrorist massacre of civilians. U.S. actions and statements that reassure Sinwar that it can survive even without handing over hostages guarantee that Hamas will continue to take hostages. If we are going to help our president achieve his goals through unilateral pressure on Israel, why would Sinwar relinquish its influence?

Biden, whose primary responsibility is the American hostages, must unequivocally support Israel rather than criticize, thwart, or belittle Israel’s efforts to bring all the hostages home. Most recently, the United States suspended the shipment of more than 3,500 bombs to Israel and threatened sanctions against a unit of the Israel Defense Forces. Public opposition to Rafah’s campaign to dismantle Hamas infrastructure has given Mr Sinwar hope of holding out longer.

The Biden administration should provide clarity on why Israel is invading Rafah and its ongoing efforts to minimize the humanitarian impact of the conflict. In fact, the Israeli military has gone to great lengths to coordinate the removal of hundreds of aid trucks per day and restore water and electricity to the Gaza Strip, but Shinwar’s dishonest negotiations have led to I have experienced disappointment after disappointment.

The tolerance for Hamas’s bad faith behavior in the negotiations is further fueled by the wavering support and public condemnation of Israel by its biggest ally, the United States. President Biden and his administration have prioritized electoral politics and their inappropriate interpretation of the party’s far-left wing over their responsibility to the American people. As a result, Sinwar feels emboldened. At the same time, the role of social media apps like TikTok must also be considered. Its algorithms disproportionately spread pro-Palestinian and pro-Hamas messages, and spread anti-Semitic disinformation about Israel. The Chinese Communist Party’s propaganda wing continues to weaken social bonds while spreading false narratives.

Let us never forget that Hamas is a brutal terrorist organization and not a legitimate negotiating partner. A group that tortured and massacred women and children in the most brutal ways possible will never negotiate in good faith.

One realistic way for Israel to free the hostages would be to maximize pressure on Sinwar by invading Rafah and conducting an operation to eliminate Hamas, which showed signs of success earlier this week in forcing Sinwar back to the negotiating table.

Biden needs to look in the mirror and remember who he serves. Americans have been taken hostage by a terrorist organization during an unprovoked invasion of an allied nation. His job will not be easy. It will require courage, moral conviction and clarity, which President Barack Obama has publicly asserted were crucial reasons for his support of Biden.

Mr. Biden must commit himself and his administration to getting American hostages home and to their families by supporting Israel, not weakening it. The alternative is to continue to play both sides of the issue for political purposes and allow American hostages to die in Hamas custody.

Brian Kavanaugh served as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Resilience in both the Trump and Biden administrations. He is senior vice president of U.S. global strategy.