Hamas Hostages' Families Issue Desperate Plea To U.S.
1 year, 4 months ago

Hamas Hostages' Families Issue Desperate Plea To U.S.

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING WASHINGTON ― After Hamas released two older hostages last month, Abbey Onn got a sliver of information: Her cousin Ofer Kalderon, a 50-year-old whom Hamas had also kidnapped, was still alive when his two fellow captives were freed. “The U.S. has the highest leverage over the actors that can pressure Hamas,” Roman said, in a reference to regional players such as the American ally Qatar, which hosts Hamas’ political leader Ismail Haniyeh. Rep. Jamie Raskin, one of several prominent U.S. lawmakers who has met with hostages’ family members, told HuffPost he wants to bolster efforts to ensure Israel prioritizes the captives, whose kidnapping he described as “a war crime.” “I am with the thousands of Israeli protesters who gathered in central Tel Aviv on Saturday night calling for Netanyahu to focus first and foremost on the immediate return of the hostages,” Raskin said in a Wednesday statement, praising the Biden administration’s push for a halt in fighting. Heiman blasted the Netanyahu administration’s public narrative, saying: “Every time someone talks, he says, ‘First destroy Hamas, destroy Gaza,’ and maybe the third sentence he’ll say, ‘Bring them home.’ I don’t think it’s the first priority.” She sees a negotiation with Hamas involving the U.S. and other governments like Egypt as essential, even though she sees the group’s Gaza chief Yahya Sinwar, whom Netanyahu freed in a previous prisoner swap, as “the most horrible man.” “The United States and all the world need to do anything that they can to bring them back,” Heiman said. The Israel Defense Forces have called the hostages “our top priority.” Gili Roman met with Sen. Ben Cardin, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, among other influential U.S. lawmakers last week.

History of this topic

Families of hostages in Gaza are terrified they won’t return after Israel resumes fighting
1 week ago
Israel strikes Gaza, families of hostages slam Netanyahu for 'sacrificing' their loved ones
1 week ago
Israel pounds Hamas in Gaza in strikes that rescuers say killed 121
1 week, 1 day ago
Hamas Says It Will Only Release American-Israeli Hostage If Truce Agreement Is Implemented
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1 week, 4 days ago
Hamas says it will only release American-Israeli hostage if ceasefire deal is implemented
1 week, 4 days ago
Hamas says it will only release American-Israeli hostage if truce agreement is implemented
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1 week, 4 days ago
Middle East latest: Hamas says it will free a US-Israeli hostage to keep ceasefire talks rolling
1 week, 4 days ago
Hamas to release US-Israeli hostage, bodies of 4 others
1 week, 5 days ago
Hamas Agrees To Release US-Israeli Hostage, Bodies Of Dual Nationals Amid Talks For Ceasefire’s Second Phase
1 week, 5 days ago
Hamas says it will release a US-Israeli hostage and 4 bodies, but Israel expresses immediate doubt
1 week, 5 days ago
Hamas says it will release American Israeli hostage and 4 bodies
1 week, 5 days ago
Hamas says it is prepared to release American-Israeli hostage and bodies of four dual nationals
1 week, 5 days ago
Hamas says it's willing to release the five American hostages in Gaza
1 week, 5 days ago
Mediators seek a new deal to release more than half of the hostages in Gaza
2 weeks ago
Gaza hostage deal possible ‘within weeks,’ US envoy says after direct Hamas talks
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2 weeks, 2 days ago
US Envoy Says New Gaza Ceasefire, Hostage Deal Possible in Weeks
2 weeks, 2 days ago
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2 weeks, 4 days ago
‘Difficult’ call took place between envoys of Trump and Netanyahu following US-Hamas talks: Report
2 weeks, 5 days ago
Hamas issues chilling new hostages threat after Donald Trump warned terror chiefs 'you are DEAD' in bid to free captives
2 weeks, 5 days ago
Israeli military escalation against Palestinians may lead to hostages' death, warns Hamas
2 weeks, 5 days ago
Hamas brushes off Trump’s threat and says it will only free hostages in return for a lasting truce
2 weeks, 6 days ago
‘Release them now or there will be hell to pay’: Donald Trump warns Hamas as US holds talks for Gaza hostages
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2 weeks, 6 days ago
Release hostages or you're dead: Trump issues last warning to Hamas
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2 weeks, 6 days ago
White House holding direct talks with Hamas on hostage release
2 weeks, 6 days ago
'You are dead': Trump warns Hamas, Gazans as US holds 'unprecedented' talks for hostage release
2 weeks, 6 days ago
Israel says has conveyed to Washington stance on US-Hamas talks over hostages
2 weeks, 6 days ago
White House confirms direct talks with Hamas aimed at releasing hostages
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2 weeks, 6 days ago
Hamas brushes off Trump's threat, says 'will only' free hostages in return for 'lasting' truce
2 weeks, 6 days ago
Hamas brushes off Trump’s threat and says it will only free hostages in return for a lasting truce
2 weeks, 6 days ago
Trump issues 'last warning' to Hamas: 'Release all hostages now, or it is over for you'
Top News
2 weeks, 6 days ago
Trump warns Hamas, Gaza ‘you are dead’ if hostages not freed
2 weeks, 6 days ago
In a first, US engages Hamas in secret talks over hostage release amid uncertain ceasefire
2 weeks, 6 days ago
Trump Issues 'Last Warning' To Hamas To Release All Remaining Hostages Held In Gaza
2 weeks, 6 days ago
Trump issues chilling final warning for Hamas to release all hostages or 'it is over for you'
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2 weeks, 6 days ago
Trump Envoy Meets With Hamas in Direct Rare Contact
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2 weeks, 6 days ago
US confirms direct talks with Hamas as Israel warns not done in Gaza
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2 weeks, 6 days ago
Trump issues ‘last warning’ to Hamas to release all remaining hostages held in Gaza
2 weeks, 6 days ago
Trump Administration Holds 'Secret Talks' With Hamas For Release Of US Hostages In Gaza: Report
2 weeks, 6 days ago
Middle East latest: The US is holding direct talks with Hamas
3 weeks ago
Release hostages now or you're dead: Trump after US holds talks with Hamas
Top News
3 weeks ago
US confirms direct talks with Hamas over Gaza captives
3 weeks ago
In a policy shift, U.S. and Hamas say they're in direct talks on hostages
3 weeks ago
Netanyahu warns Hamas of 'unimaginable' consequences over hostages
Trending News
3 weeks ago
Netanyahu threatens Hamas over hostages as Gaza talks reach an impasse
3 weeks, 1 day ago
Israel stops the delivery of aid to Gaza until Hamas accepts U.S. ceasefire extension
3 weeks, 3 days ago
Hamas hands over bodies of hostages as Israel frees Palestinian prisoners
1 month ago
Hamas denounces delay in release of prisoners
Trending News
1 month ago
Israel delays release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners over ‘humiliating’ handover of hostages
Trending News
1 month ago
Israel delays release of Palestinian prisoners over 'humiliating' handover of hostages
1 month ago
Israel postpones 620 Palestinian prisoner release until Hamas ends ‘humiliating ceremonies’ of hostage displays
1 month ago

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