Bring Them Home
Floor Speech
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, it has been 186 days since the barbaric Hamas attack on October 7, in which more than 1,200 people were brutally murdered and more than 250 taken hostage. It has been 186 days, and still 133 people, including 8 Americans, are being held hostage in Gaza.
Many of the 133 are known to be dead, including 3 of the Americans. Some were murdered on October 7, and their bodies taken into Gaza. Some, known to be alive in captivity, have been murdered by their captors, like Elad Katzir, whose body was recovered just last week in Khan Yunis.
It has been 186 days, more than 6 months, and there is no indication of their medical status, no visits from the Red Cross, no word of when they might come home.
For the families, 186 unbearable days of wondering if their loved one is dead or alive, is being tortured, or is a victim of sexual violence.
Mr. Speaker, 186 days is unconscionable.
For many weeks, negotiations facilitated by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar have sought to achieve a cease-fire and bring hostages home. Israel has accepted the terms. Hamas has, to date, rejected them. The world waits for Hamas' response.
As Secretary of State Antony Blinken noted earlier today: ``It is astounding to me that the world is almost deafeningly silent when it comes to Hamas.''
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to once again bring urgent and necessary attention to the hostages still held in Gaza. All deserve to be named, but I will list the Americans, many of whose families are with us in the gallery here today: Edan Alexander, Sagui Dekel-Chen, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Omer Neutra, Keith Siegel, Judi Weinstein and Gad Haggai, and Itay Chen.
My heart goes out to the families and friends of those hostages who have yet to be released, who have no information about the well-being of their loved ones, whether they are alive, injured, or dead.
I refuse to let the hostages be forgotten. We must bring them home.
Mr. Speaker, tonight, with my colleagues, we stand on the House floor imploring Congress to work to save the hostages. We also honor the families of those who were killed or taken hostage on October 7.
Tonight, a number of these families present in the House gallery continue to call for our government to do all it can to bring the remaining hostages home including: Rachel Goldberg and Jon Polin, parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, a 23-year-old Chicago native who attended the Tribe of Nova music festival on October 7.
Jonathan Dekel-Chen, father of Sagui Dekel-Chen, a 35-year-old husband and father who was 200 yards from his kibbutz when Hamas terrorists invaded the area on October 7. After sounding the alarm for his neighbors, he joined the kibbutz' security team to push back on Hamas. His mother was also taken captive but escaped when an IDF helicopter shot at the vehicle taking her away.
Ronen and Orna Neutra, parents of Omer Neutra, a 21-year-old member of the IDF who was in a tank defending the Gaza border on October 7. He grew up in New York and was living in Israel before attending university in the United States.
Adi and Yael Alexander, parents of Edan Alexander, a 19-year-old member of the IDF who was stationed near Gaza at the time of the attack.
Andrea Weinstein, sister of Judi Weinstein, who was killed on October 7. Judi, age 70, grew up in Canada but was born in New York.
Liz Hirsh Naftali, the great aunt of 3-year-old Abigail, who was kidnapped and taken alone to Gaza after her parents were murdered in front of her eyes by Hamas terrorists.
We honor the memories of those who have died, and we pray for those who are still in captivity.
I thank all my colleagues who have joined me here today as we work to make sure that we bring those hostages home. General Leave
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. SCHNEIDER. Wasserman Schultz), my good friend and colleague who joined me in Israel just 2 weeks ago on a mission to understand what Israel was going through and how we can make a difference.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his leadership in calling all of us together in support of bringing all of our hostages home.
I am reminding the world that Hamas still has American hostages in its grip. We are joined tonight in the gallery by several of their family members who have spent every night for over half a year praying, mourning, hoping beyond hope for their loved ones' safe return.
Our number one job as elected officials is providing for the safety, security, and integrity of the American people. We cannot rest while a terrorist group that has murdered Americans continues to hold Americans hostage.
Nothing is more critical than what President Biden and his administration are doing every day. He is fighting tirelessly to bring Americans and the rest of the hostages home right now through a temporary cease-fire agreement.
It is unconscionable that Hamas continues to reject a hostage deal and hold over 130 hostages in Gaza. It is despicable that these sick, violent fiends refuse to allow the hostages to be reunited with their families and cling like vultures to the remains of innocent civilians they have tortured, starved, and murdered in order to use them as political leverage.
Our message to these families, our regional partners, and the American people is consistent and clear. Hamas must not succeed. The hostages must come home.
I joined my colleague from Illinois 2 weeks ago, and we both led side-by-side congressional delegations, I for women Members of Congress, where we met with the parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who we have met with numerous times, and many of the family members that are here tonight.
Rachel and Jon are here tonight as well, and their strength and commitment alongside all of the American families to be reunited with their loved ones is inspiring. The love of a parent knows no bounds.
Once the hostages are released, we look forward to welcoming you all back to this Chamber in celebration of your families being made whole again. Please know that I, personally and on behalf of my constituents, carry all of your loved ones in my heart each and every day.
I am proud President Biden and Vice President Harris have stood by Israel's side all of this time, defending the American and Israeli people and using leverage to push our allies and partners to get a deal done.
There has been a deal on the table, and that continues to be negotiated today, spearheaded by President Biden, backed by Israel, Egypt, and Qatar, that will get hostages home, aid into Gaza, and a pause in the fighting.
Hamas can end all the pain in hearts right here around us and in that region. If they had any interest in safeguarding Palestinians, this could all be over right now. Egypt, Qatar, and leaders with leverage must insist that Hamas accepts this deal. Anyone who wants to see a temporary cease-fire, the release of hostages, and a just and lasting peace must demand it of Hamas.
It has been 186 days. Our fellow Americans must come home now. Those who have been lost must be brought home and laid to rest. Until that day, we will continue to stand together, arm in arm with these families and with our ally, Israel.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time is remaining.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. SCHNEIDER. I am proud that support for Israel and the call for bringing the hostages home is something that we work together collaboratively on both sides of the aisle.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. SCHNEIDER. Manning), my friend, who also traveled with us to Israel 2 weeks ago.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, last week there were 19 Members of the Republican freshman class who were in Israel.
Mr. GOLDMAN of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Illinois for scheduling this Special Order.
I rise here tonight once again to lift up the 133 hostages--innocent babies, grandparents, young women who have suffered from awful sexual abuse, and so many others--who were all brutally and illegally captured on October 7 by Hamas, a terrorist organization that has held them in treacherous conditions for 6 months.
We don't actually know how many are alive because Hamas has violated just about every single humanitarian law that exists and will not provide a basic list of those who are alive or even provide wellness checks and daily medication to the elderly. Eight of these hostages are Americans, three of whom are sadly now confirmed dead.
Three weeks ago, Itay Chen, a 19-year-old soldier in the IDF who was on the border of Gaza on October 7, was determined to have been killed on that fateful day.
Hagit and Ruby, Itay's parents, my constituents who are here tonight with several other families of hostages, have fearlessly and courageously led the families of hostages to focus our attention on the urgent need to bring them home. Ruby and the other hostage families should not have to work so hard to keep the hostages front of mind.
Since when do Americans show indifference to eight of our own held hostage by a terrorist group? Since when do international organizations and democratic countries around the world simply allow a terrorist group to hold hostages from 26 different countries captive for 6 months with deafening silence? Is it only because they are Jewish that they are viewed differently?
We all want this conflict to end. We want the violence to stop. Let me give you two simple actions that can end this conflict immediately. First, Hamas can lay down their arms and relinquish control of the Gaza Strip. Second, and most importantly, Hamas must release all the hostages, including the deceased bodies. That will end this today.
There was a permanent cease-fire on October 7 when Hamas executed the worst terrorist attack on the Jewish people since the Holocaust. Hamas has vowed to repeat that attack over and over again if given the opportunity.
Just imagine if after 9/11, al-Qaida controlled Mexico or Canada and vowed to continue to attack the United States from our own border again and again. Would a single person in this country have called for us to retreat and let al-Qaida remain in power next door, poised to replicate 9/11 again? Of course not.
There are many calls for some kind of cease-fire, and there is no question that some kind of cease-fire is long overdue, even though everyone seems to have a different understanding of the term.
No question Israel must do its part. The Israeli Government must increase humanitarian aid so that displaced Palestinians can get the food and medical care they need. They have been doing that much more robustly since a conversation between President Biden and Prime Minister Netanyahu last week. The Israeli Government must be willing to enter into a reasonable agreement to stop the violence and get the hostages out.
One requirement of any reasonable, rational cease-fire agreement must include that the innocent, tortured, illegally held hostages are released. I dare, I challenge, anyone in this building, in my district in New York City, or in any of the 435 districts around this country to publicly say that a cease-fire agreement of any kind need not include the return of the illegally abducted hostages.
Israel has no control over the hostages. Hamas does. If any reasonable cease-fire agreement necessarily includes the return of hostages--and it must--then there can be no cease-fire agreement of any kind if Hamas is not a party to that agreement. If you are calling for a cease-fire, then you must call on Hamas to release the hostages.
I say to our administration, I say to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, on both sides of this Capitol, I say to our allies around the world, Hamas and the countries that harbor and communicate with their leadership must feel much greater pressure to release the hostages. More and more are dying every day. We must bring them home. We must bring them home now.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time is remaining.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, with your indulgence, I would like to read into the Record the statement from our colleague from Maryland, Mr. Steny Hoyer.
``Mr. Speaker, I rise today''----
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. SCHNEIDER. Yes, if that is allowed by the rules.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, what I would like to do, on behalf of our colleague from Maryland, Mr. Steny Hoyer, is submit for the Record his statement talking about American hostage Itay Chen, who was deemed to have been murdered on October 7. His family is waiting to bring his body home before they honor him with a funeral and sit the Jewish tradition of shiva, 7 days of mourning. They will not have that opportunity to sit shiva until Itay's body is returned.
We all join with the Chen family, with all of Israel, waiting for the return of every hostage, not just those living but those who are deemed deceased.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Source