Speaker of the House Mike Johnson convened a meeting in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday with the families of hostages. The gathering, held at the U.S. Capitol, brought together relatives of both American and Israeli citizens who were abducted by Hamas terrorists during the October 7, 2023, attack. Speaker Johnson conveyed his deep sympathy for the families and reiterated the unwavering commitment of both the current and incoming administrations to securing the hostages’ release.
During the discussion, the families pressed the Speaker to make their loved ones’ plight a top priority and take immediate action. Speaker Johnson echoed their concerns, underscoring the urgency of removing the hostages from Hamas’s brutal captivity. He highlighted the dire situation they face and stressed the importance of swift action to prevent further suffering and death.
Aviva Siegel, who was released after being held hostage for 51 days, recounted her harrowing experience in Gaza. She spoke about the ongoing fear for those still in captivity, including her husband, American hostage Keith Siegel. “We cannot allow human beings to endure what I experienced—the most horrific ordeal imaginable,” she remarked. “The hostages live in constant terror, uncertain if they will survive, fearing torture, abuse, or starvation. They wait endlessly to be saved, dreading who might be next to die. I cannot bear to think of the girls I left behind, exposed to sexual violence, fearing every day that they might be touched, violated and harassed. I was released through a negotiated deal and could have easily died. If we abandon them, we condemn them to potential death each day. Now is the moment to seal the deal and secure their freedom.”
The meeting included the families of several hostages, including Romi Gonen, Naama Levy, Karina Ariev, and several American hostages, such as Keith Siegel, Sagui Dekel Chen, Edan Alexander, Itay Chen, Judi Weinstein Haggai, and Gad Haggai.
On Tuesday, the relatives of American hostages met with National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan to discuss the efforts by the Biden administration to secure the release of the remaining 100 hostages, seven of whom are Americans. During the conversation, the families expressed their gratitude for the administration’s ongoing support since the October 7 attacks. They stressed the importance of collaborating closely with President-elect Trump’s team to expedite the hostages’ release before the end of the current administration. The families urged Sullivan to leverage all resources to bring their loved ones home as quickly as possible.
Sullivan reaffirmed the administration’s firm commitment to working with President-elect Trump’s team in securing the release of all hostages. He assured the families that the safe return of the hostages remained a top priority for President Biden. He provided updates on the ongoing negotiations and assured them that the administration would continue its dedicated efforts to resolve this critical situation.
{Matzav.com}