Family members of the six Americans still held hostage by the Palestinian militant group Hamas are calling on Congress and the Biden administration to apply greater pressure on allies in the Middle East, including Israel, to secure the release of their loved ones.
Speaking Wednesday on Capitol Hill, the group implored lawmakers to imagine their sons, daughters, brothers and sisters held captive for over 100 days. The group also included Americans whose family members have been released and Israelis working to free their family members.
“They are injured, starving, raped, tortured. And they are still in the dark tunnels below ground in Gaza,” said Liz Hirsh Naftali, the great aunt of Abigail Edan, a 4-year-old American girl whose parents were killed on Oct. 7. Abigail was released as part of a cease-fire deal in November. Naftali has continued to advocate for the “safe and swift return” of all hostages.
