On Wednesday, the day before President Biden’s State of the Union address, families of hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip joined a bipartisan group of House members to call for their release.
Orna Neutra, the mother of American hostage Omer Neutra, has appealed for the release of her son, who serves in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and has been held captive for 152 days.
“We are running out of words and strength,” Neutra said Wednesday. “Sometimes I wish I could retire to a place where there is no media and just disappear until we finally get a breakthrough, until we get the phone call announcing our release.”
Neutra is one of 17 relatives of American hostages in the Gaza Strip who are scheduled to attend Biden’s Thursday speech as guests of Congress.
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Florida) on Wednesday called for the release of the hostages and stressed that it was the responsibility of the extremist group Hamas to accept the deal that Israel allegedly agreed to. The agreement includes a six-week ceasefire in exchange for Hamas releasing hostages considered at risk.
“The ball is in Hamas’ court here,” Wasserman Schulz said at a press conference Wednesday. “We must tell Hamas to accept this deal now.”
“Our message to these families and community partners is that the American people have been consistent and clear,” she later said. “Hamas must not succeed. The hostages must return home.”
Families whose loved ones are being held by Hamas are also asking members of Congress and their staff to wear yellow ribbons and dog tags to show solidarity during Biden’s State of the Union address.
“We’re not asking our members to take a political position,” Neutra said. “This is a bipartisan issue. It’s not about taking sides.”
Biden’s speech came as a growing number of Democrats in Congress called for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. Progressive members of the party have criticized the Biden administration’s handling of the conflict.
Rep. Mike Lawler (RN.Y.), who also attended the press briefing, said the Biden administration should continue to make every effort to bring back the hostages and ensure their families’ voices are heard.
“This is more important than politics,” Lawlor said. “The voices of these families must be heard. Their loved ones must be remembered, and we, the American government, must do everything we can to bring them home.”
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