The father of an American captive held by Hamas views Lebanon's attacks as adding extra pain to his existing suffering.
Adi Alexander, whose kid Edan Alexander is being detained, voiced his concerns in an interview on "The Lead with Jake Tapper," expressing the need to put an end to this cycle of violence.
Israel hasn't acknowledged responsibility for the attacks, but CNN reported that Tuesday's operation was a collaboration between the IDF and Mossad.
Alexander and other relatives of American captives by the terrorist group convened with Tapper on Wednesday as the one-year anniversary of Hamas's brutal October 7 assault draws near. As of now, prospects of a peace agreement to liberate the hostages and cease hostilities in Gaza seem unlikely.
Instead, the conflict seems to be escalating. On Thursday, Israel targeted Hezbollah locations in southern Lebanon with airstrikes, and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant declared a "new era of conflict" on Wednesday.
During ceasefire discussions, Alexander urged President Joe Biden to have a tough talk with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, suggesting he should halt shifting goalposts and undermining his own negotiating team.
"This conversation needs to take place immediately," he added.
Netanyahu is scheduled to attend the United Nations General Assembly next week, but a source told CNN that he won't meet with Biden.
Biden once suggested that Netanyahu is protracting the conflict for political gains.
Iris Weinstein Haggai, whose parents lost their lives on October 7, urged the US government to do more.
"It's simply unacceptable that we're not doing everything within our power to pressure all nations and the international community to put pressure on Hamas and release these innocent captives, who are rotting away," Weinstein Haggai said.
Several hostage family members are currently in Washington, with the October 7 anniversary rapidly approaching. They discussed the lack of progress in ceasefire talks with national security adviser Jake Sullivan on Wednesday.
Their visit comes after the Israeli military retrieved the bodies of six hostages, including Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, from Hamas-controlled tunnels in Gaza. Just before Goldberg-Polin's death was confirmed, his parents pleaded for his safe return at the Democratic National Convention.
Ronen Neutra, father of Omer Neutra, expressed his horror over Goldberg-Polin's death on Wednesday.
"Where is the outrage? How can an American be murdered yet there are people celebrating Hamas in the streets of New York? It's the same organization that just killed an American. So, where is the outrage?" he questioned.
"I don't think I have high hopes for Netanyahu," Neutra added. "His words in Israel and his statements in front of the American public don't align."
Jonathan Dekel-Chen, father of another American hostage Sagui Dekel-Chen, admitted that his expectations for a resolution in negotiations are minimal.
"All Israelis have grown weary of listening to Netanyahu because it's clear that there's a disconnect between his commitment to securing the return of the hostages and his actions," Dekel-Chen explained.
"It's apparent to me, at least, that he's attending the United Nations General Assembly primarily for domestic consumption in Israel," he concluded. "What he says there, unfortunately, may not be well-received in the General Assembly."
Contributions from CNN's Eugenia Yosef and Arlette Saenz
Amidst the ongoing conflict, Adi Alexander expressed his concerns about the hostages and urged President Biden to have a tough talk with Prime Minister Netanyahu, highlighting the political aspect of the situation.
Given the escalating tensions and the lack of progress in peace negotiations, many are questioning the true commitment of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to securing the release of American hostages, which undeniably falls under the realm of international politics.
