Schneider & 21 Members Urge World Leaders to Call on Hamas to Accept Proposed Hostage Deal
WASHINGTON – In a new letter, Rep. Brad Schneider (IL-10) led 21 Members of Congress in urging U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to press world leaders to call on Hamas to accept the proposed hostage deal.
“More than six months since Hamas launched its war against Israel, hostages – including American citizens – continue to languish in Gaza’s terror tunnels,” the Members write. “Hamas refuses to confirm how many are alive, but we know that these individuals are suffering deprivation, torture, and sexual violence. With a deal to release the hostages now on the table, we ask you to urgently press world leaders – especially in the Arab world – to clearly and firmly call on Hamas to agree to the deal so the hostages can be released, the fighting can be paused, and more humanitarian assistance can be provided.”
The letter to Secretary Blinken is co-led by Reps. Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Kathy Manning (NC-06), and Jan Schakowsky (IL-09). Other signers include Reps. Jake Auchincloss (MA-04), Lois Frankel (FL-22), Daniel Goldman (NY-10), Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), William Keating (MA-09), Susie Lee (NV-03), Mike Levin (CA-49), Ted Lieu (CA-36), Grace Meng (NY-06), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Chris Pappas (NH-01), Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), Kim Schrier (WA-08), Greg Stanton (AZ-04), Haley Stevens (MI-11), Dina Titus (NV-01), David Trone (MD-06), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25).
“Hamas now has a deal in front of it, presented by the U.S. and agreed to by Israel with support from Egypt and Qatar,” the letter continues. “This is a key moment to exert maximum pressure on Sinwar’s Hamas and clarify that the world demands the hostages be freed. We commend your leadership and ask you to urge leaders across the world, especially those of Arab countries, to unequivocally call for the hostages to be freed.”
The letter follows a week of events led by Rep. Schneider on Capitol Hill focused on the urgency of bringing hostages home, including a Special Order Hour on the House Floor where Schneider and 10 Members of Congress representing both sides of the aisle spoke before family members of American hostages who were seated in the House Gallery. The families also joined a roundtable Schneider hosted with four colleagues the following morning.
The full text of the letter is below and the Special Order Hour can be viewed here.
Dear Secretary Blinken:
More than six months since Hamas launched its war against Israel, hostages – including American citizens – continue to languish in Gaza’s terror tunnels. Hamas refuses to confirm how many are alive, but we know that these individuals are suffering deprivation, torture, and sexual violence. With a deal to release the hostages now on the table, we ask you to urgently press world leaders – especially in the Arab world – to clearly and firmly call on Hamas to agree to the deal so the hostages can be released, the fighting can be paused, and more humanitarian assistance can be provided.
We are grateful for your moral clarity in stating: “It is astounding to me that the world is almost deafeningly silent when it comes to Hamas.” The United States has been Israel’s leading supporter since the war began: President Biden sent two carrier strike groups into the region to provide support and become the first U.S. President to visit Israel in wartime. The U.S. has also been a vocal proponent of negotiations and humanitarian assistance, and has provided Israel with significant defense materiel. We commend your and President Biden’s leadership in support of our ally Israel and Americans held hostage by Hamas.
Many of the world’s leaders have unfortunately not yet mirrored America’s clear commitment to freeing the hostages and dismantling Hamas. Half a dozen countries besides the US and Israel have citizens still held hostage in Gaza. In the face of this profound humanitarian challenge, too many world leaders have demonstrated the deafening silence you mentioned, refusing to even call for the hostage’s release. A notable exception in the Arab world has been Bahrain’s Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa who has joined this call.
Hamas now has a deal in front of it, presented by the U.S. and agreed to by Israel with support from Egypt and Qatar. This is a key moment to exert maximum pressure on Sinwar’s Hamas and clarify that the world demands the hostages be freed. We commend your leadership and ask you to urge leaders across the world, especially those of Arab countries, to unequivocally call for the hostages to be freed.
Thank you for your consideration.
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