WASHINGTON — Families of American hostages held by Hamas are urging the White House to consider bypassing Israel and negotiating directly with Hamas for their release, according to US media reports.

NBC News reported that the Biden administration is exploring options that would exclude Israel from the negotiations, citing five unnamed sources familiar with the discussions.

Officials have told the families that while all options are being explored, a deal involving both Hamas and Israel remains the preferred approach.

However, the pressure to consider a unilateral deal has intensified following the discovery of the body of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an Israeli American hostage, in Gaza last week.

The possibility of a direct deal with Hamas has gained traction as family members and some administration officials express doubts that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will agree to a cease-fire in Gaza in exchange for the hostages' release.

Analysts and critics argue that Netanyahu is unlikely to end the conflict, believing that continuing the war serves his political interests. This poses a challenge for the Biden administration, which remains Israel’s biggest supporter, in negotiating directly with Hamas without affecting its support for Tel Aviv.

Months of peace efforts, including those led by the US, Qatar, and Egypt, have stalled due to Netanyahu’s refusal to meet Hamas’ cease-fire demands.

Israel has continued its offensive on Gaza since a Hamas attack on October 7, despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire.

The conflict has resulted in over 40,800 Palestinian deaths, mostly women and children, and left the region in dire humanitarian conditions with severe shortages of essential supplies. Israel’s actions in Gaza face accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice. — Agencies