WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and 46 colleagues urged President Joe Biden to continue putting his full attention on the freeing of American hostages that were taken by Hamas during the terrorist organization’s October 7th attacks on Israel and supporting Israel’s efforts to dismantle the threat of Hamas.
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“Hamas has already killed 30 Americans and likely injured many more…The terrorists responsible for these atrocities hide behind human shields while they threaten to livestream the execution of hostages. Hamas has also reportedly demanded the mass release of prisoners in exchange for freeing its hostages and could use the hostages to push for a ceasefire. With several U.S. citizens still missing in the aftermath of the terror group’s brutal attack, we urge you to continue putting your full attention on the freeing of American hostages. Every day must be treated with a sense of urgency,” wrote the senators. “As a result, we urge the United States to continue supporting Israel’s urgent efforts to dismantle the threat of Hamas, provide the necessary resources for Israel’s defense, and continue offering whatever support necessary to immediately and safely rescue kidnapped Americans, with particular attention to those who require urgent medical care,” continued the senators. “We urge you to encourage our allies and partners in the region to place pressure on Hamas to allow the International Committee of the Red Cross to have access to the hostages while the United States and Israel work to secure their release,” concluded the senators. Cassidy, Ernst, and Booker were joined by Senators Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Katie Britt (R-AL), John Boozman (R-AR), John Barrasso (R-WY), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Rick Scott (R-FL), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Bob Casey (D-PA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Jon Tester (D-MT), Tina Smith (D-MN), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), John Hoeven (R-ND), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Steve Daines (R-MT), Jim Risch (R-ID), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Cornyn (R-TX), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), James Lankford (R-OK), Mark Warner (D-VA), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Ted Budd (R-NC), and Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA-02), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL-25), and Darrell Issa (R-CA-48) in signing the letter. Read the full letter here or below: Dear President Biden, We are heartbroken that Hamas has kidnapped over 199 civilians, including American citizens, during its brutal terrorist attacks in Israel on October 7, 2023. We appreciate that you have sent the U.S. Deputy Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs to Israel to assist in the recovery of the hostages, and we urge you to do everything in your power to secure their safe release. Hamas has already killed 30 Americans, and likely injured many more. We agree with your labeling of Hamas’s immoral attacks as an “act of sheer evil,” and a “violation of every code of human morality.” The terrorists responsible for these atrocities hide behind human shields while they threaten to livestream the execution of hostages. Hamas has also reportedly demanded the mass release of prisoners in exchange for freeing its hostages and could use the hostages to push for a ceasefire. With several U.S. citizens still missing in the aftermath of the terror group’s brutal attack, we urge you to continue putting your full attention on the freeing of American hostages. Every day must be treated with a sense of urgency. As a result, we urge the United States to continue supporting Israel’s urgent efforts to dismantle the threat of Hamas, provide the necessary resources for Israel’s defense, and continue offering whatever support necessary to immediately and safely rescue kidnapped Americans, with particular attention to those who require urgent medical care. Lastly, many families are painfully waiting for any update on the health of their loved ones who have been taken hostage. We urge you to encourage our allies and partners in the region to place pressure on Hamas to allow the International Committee of the Red Cross to have access to the hostages while the United States and Israel work to secure their release. We appreciate your attention on this extraordinarily important matter. ### |