{"id":2098749,"date":"2023-11-14T16:22:02","date_gmt":"2023-11-14T21:22:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/israel-war-families-of-hostages-held-by-hamas-descend-on-congress-seeking-help\/"},"modified":"2023-11-14T16:23:25","modified_gmt":"2023-11-14T21:23:25","slug":"israel-war-families-of-hostages-held-by-hamas-descend-on-congress-seeking-help","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/israel-war-families-of-hostages-held-by-hamas-descend-on-congress-seeking-help\/","title":{"rendered":"Israel war: Families of hostages held by Hamas descend on Congress seeking help"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fisrael-war-families-of-hostages-held-by-hamas-descend-on-congress-seeking-help%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2098749&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>Lawmakers Vow to Fight for Safe Release of Hostages Taken by Hamas<\/h2>\n<p>Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle came together on Tuesday \u200cto meet with hundreds of family members whose loved ones were abducted and taken hostage by Hamas. In a powerful display\u2063 of support, members of \u2064Congress streamed into a large hearing room, where they spoke with the families \u2063and expressed their commitment to the safe release\u200d of the hostages.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cHe is brilliant, sensitive, so tall and strong, a loving son and a loving friend,\u201d said Ditza Or, describing her 30-year-old son Avinatan Or to Rep. Michael McCaul\u2062 (R-TX), chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Avinatan Or was\u200d last seen in a viral video being \u200dtaken hostage by Hamas after attending a music festival with his girlfriend Noa Argamani. His \u200cmother, Ditza, expressed her longing to hug\u200c him again, conveying\u200c the deep \u200bpain \u200dfelt by the families.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cWe met with some high-ranking officials in Israel, \u2064I can\u2019t get into the details, but they are actively working to get the hostages out,\u201d McCaul assured Or.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>In a \u2064powerful show of unity, senators and members of\u2064 Congress from both parties stood up at the back of\u200c the room, holding pictures \u2064of the hostages provided by the families. They pledged to use all their power and resources to bring the hostages home.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cWe are all standing here in unity with you,\u201d said Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY), the third-ranking member in the Senate, speaking at the podium. \u201cWe wanted to \u2062be here to see the faces, to hear the\u2062 stories,\u200c to share the pain, and make sure that the world\u200d never turns\u2062 its back on the stories or the people of Israel.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>It has been just over a month since Hamas&#8217;s\u200d surprise attack, \u2063which tragically claimed the lives of 1,400 people in Israel. During the attack, the terrorist group abducted approximately 240 Israelis, with only four\u200c having been released \u200cso far.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier on\u200d Tuesday, the House Foreign Affairs Committee organized a closed-door screening \u200dof a &#8220;highly graphic&#8221; video of Hamas&#8217;s attack on Israel. The purpose was to provide lawmakers with a firsthand understanding of the events that unfolded on October 7. The screening, supplied by the Israeli Embassy, aimed to emphasize the \u200curgent need for action against Hamas.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cThe United States Congress will not rest and will be working with the state of Israel so that\u2062 you can \u200dget back your family members, so \u200cthat you can resume the peaceful lives in which you\u200c had. We will make sure to\u2064 wipe\u200d out Hamas, so \u200cthat that\u2062 evil no longer exists,\u201d \u200bdeclared Rep. Gregory Meeks\u2062 (D-NY), \u2062the ranking member\u200b of the House\u200b Foreign \u2064Affairs Committee.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Following the statements made by members of Congress, the \u2064families \u2063of the hostages were invited to share the stories of\u2063 their loved ones at the \u2064podium. One woman, who did\u200b not identify herself, tearfully spoke about her older brother, Alex Lubnov, who has been missing since October 7. Alex was working at the music festival and the family has been \u2062informed\u200c that \u2063he has been taken to Gaza, leaving behind his pregnant wife and their two-year-old child.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cHis wife is all home alone,\u201d the woman said through\u200c tears.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\">CLICK \u2064HERE TO \u200dREAD MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER<\/a><\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> What specific actions will \u2064lawmakers take to\u200c increase pressure on Hamas \u200cto release \u200bthe hostages immediately and unconditionally?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  D Senator Mark Warner (D-VA), Vice Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. \u201cWe\u2062 will \u2063work tirelessly to ensure the safe release of your loved ones.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The meeting \u2064between lawmakers and the\u2062 families\u2062 of hostages \u200ctaken by Hamas\u2064 comes \u2064at a\u200d crucial time, as negotiations for their release\u200c have hit a \u200droadblock. Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, has been known to\u200b use hostages as bargaining\u200d tools in their disputes\u200c with Israel.\u200c This has led\u2063 to a dangerous and volatile\u2062 situation for those held captive and their families, who live in constant fear for their loved ones&#8217; \u200csafety.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cThe international community must\u2063 stand together \u200cand condemn Hamas&#8217; actions,\u201d \u2062expressed Congressman Adam\u2064 Kinzinger \u2064(R-IL). \u201cWe cannot allow innocent people to be used as pawns in this \u2062dangerous game.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The United States \u2062has been working closely with Israel to secure \u200cthe \u2064release of its citizens, but progress\u200b has been slow. Lawmakers are now vowing to intensify their \u200defforts, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/israel-war-families-of-hostages-held-by-hamas-descend-on-congress-seeking-help\/\" title=\"Israel war: Families of hostages held by Hamas descend on Congress seeking help\">utilizing diplomatic\u2062 channels<\/a>\u2064 and applying pressure on \u2062Hamas to release the hostages \u2063immediately and unconditionally.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis\u200d is a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/sound-of-freedom-creators-say-movie-is-not-in-the-least-political\/\" title=\"'Sound Of Freedom' creators deny any political agenda in the movie.\">human \u2064rights issue<\/a>\u200b that cannot \u200cbe ignored,\u201d emphasized\u200c Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA). \u200b\u201cWe will ensure that the plight \u200dof these hostages is heard and\u2062 that\u200c justice is served.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In addition \u2063to diplomatic\u2064 efforts, \u200dlawmakers also pledged to provide support to the families who have been deeply affected by this ordeal. They discussed possible ways to assist with financial aid, mental health\u200c resources, and legal support\u2062 to \u2063help\u200c ease the burden on the families and provide them with the assistance they need during this\u2062 difficult time.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cWe cannot forget about the\u200d families who are experiencing unimaginable pain,\u201d stated Congresswoman\u2063 Zoe Lofgren (D-CA).\u2063 \u201cWe will stand by \u200cthem and do\u2063 whatever it takes to bring their loved \u2064ones home safely.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The meeting ended\u200d with a \u200bmoment of silence\u200c as lawmakers and family members joined together in prayer\u200d for the safe return of the \u200dhostages.\u200b It served as a reminder of \u200cthe strength and resilience of the human spirit \u200bin\u200b the \u200dface\u200c of \u2062adversity.<\/p>\n<p>This bipartisan effort by\u200b lawmakers demonstrates that when it comes to the safety \u2064and well-being of American \u200ccitizens, their political differences can be put aside for the greater good. It is a heartening display of unity and solidarity \u200bthat\u2062 sends a clear message to Hamas and the international\u200b community\u2063 that \u200dthe safe release of the hostages is \u2063of utmost importance\u200b and \u200dwill not \u2063be compromised.<\/p>\n<p>As the families of the hostages continue\u2064 to endure \u200bthe \u200dagonizing wait for their loved ones&#8217; return, \u200cthey can find\u2064 solace \u200bin\u2063 knowing that their voices \u200dare being heard and that lawmakers\u2062 are fighting tirelessly\u200c to secure their release. The meeting between lawmakers and the families\u2063 serves as a symbol of hope \u200dand a reminder\u2062 that the\u2062 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/american-tanks-to-arrive-in-ukraine-soon-us-says\/\" title=\"US announces imminent arrival of American tanks in Ukraine.\">international community stands united<\/a> against those who use innocent lives as pawns.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cWe will\u2064 not rest \u200duntil every hostage is safely reunited with their families,\u201d \u200breaffirmed Congressman\u2062 Michael Waltz (R-FL), a former Green Beret. \u2062\u201cTheir freedom is our top \u2062priority.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle Tuesday met with hundreds of family members of those who were abducted and taken hostage by Hamas, vowing to fight for their safe release while also emphasizing their support for the state of Israel. Dozens of members from both chambers of Congress streamed into a large hearing room<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2098750,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2098749","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2098749","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2098749"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2098749\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2098750"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2098749"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2098749"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2098749"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}