Release Alex Danzig

Floor Speech

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Mr. NICKEL. Mr. Speaker, on October 7, Alex Danzig was brutally kidnapped by Hamas terrorists from his kibbutz in Nir Oz.

I rise today to share Alex's story.

Alex is a 75-year-old father, historian, and beloved grandfather. Alex was born in Poland and spent his life dedicated to Holocaust education.

For the past 30 years, he has worked at Yad Vashem--The World Holocaust Remembrance Center. Over the past 30 years, Alex has traveled between Israel and Poland, working to facilitate dialogue between the people of both countries. He has been called ``a great communicator who knows how to speak to young people and can break down barriers.''

It has been more than 100 days since his kidnapping. Alex spent International Holocaust Remembrance Day in unthinkable and inhumane conditions.

According to reports about the first wave of hostages, even while in captivity, Alex was still giving history lectures. For those who know him, it should come as no surprise.

His lifelong dedication to Holocaust education is inspiring, and it is heartbreaking that such a prolific human rights defender is now being held hostage by Hamas terrorists. He has dedicated his life to understanding how and why the Holocaust happened, only to have his life irrevocably changed by the same strain of hatred and violence that is anti-Semitism.

It is so incredibly important to make sure that the hostages are not forgotten and that their stories continue to be told until they are safely returned home.

That is why I stand here today to demand that Hamas release Alex immediately, along with all the remaining hostages.

Let's be clear. Kidnapping innocent civilians like Alex is not a form of resistance. It is a cowardly, shameful act of terrorism. Likewise, October 7 was not an act of resistance but a brutal, barbaric, and calculated attack against the Jewish people and the State of Israel.

Hamas is not a resistance movement; it is a terrorist group whose mission is the destruction of Israel and the death of every single Jewish person.

If Hamas and its leaders truly cared about its people as they claim, they wouldn't continually disregard humanitarian law and the rules of war, including intentionally targeting civilians, taking hostages, using human shields, and embedding their fighters in civilian communities with utter disregard for their safety and welfare.

The United States of America remains resolute in its position. Terrorism can never be justified. Violence against civilians, particularly children and the elderly, is never acceptable.

We must dismantle Hamas and free the Israeli citizens wrongfully held hostage. Israel has proven its willingness to pause the fighting for hostages to be returned to their loved ones.

Hamas broke the first hostage deal, just as it broke the cease-fire that was in place before October 7. Unfortunately, a cease-fire today would leave Hamas with control of the Gaza Strip and allow the terrorist organization to re-arm and continue its attack against innocent civilians, including innocent children and the elderly.

I call on Qatar and other nations with ties to Hamas to increase the pressure on the terrorist group to free all Israeli hostages immediately. I stand with Alex and his family, friends, and loved ones, and I pray for his safe return.

It is time to bring Alex home. It is time to bring all of the hostages home.

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