A group of House Republicans wrote a letter to President Biden urging him to ensure the release of U.S. citizens held hostage by Hamas and to support Israel’s right to self-defense. The attack by Hamas fighters in October 2023 resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the kidnapping of more than 250 individuals and the GOP lawmakers called for unwavering support for Israel in defeating Hamas and securing the release of the hostages. The letter highlighted five American citizens believed to be hostages and emphasized the need for the U.S. to align with Israel’s goals in order to increase the chances of successful negotiations and hostage release.
The lawmakers expressed a strong belief in the United States being Israel’s greatest ally in the effort to bring the hostages home. They called for the U.S. to use its voice, status, and power on the world stage to amplify the plight of the hostages who have suffered at the hands of a designated foreign terrorist organization. The letter also urged Biden to work towards bringing the hostages home and using the influence of the U.S. to support Israel’s right to self-defense. Additionally, they called on the U.S. to pressure Qatar to stop supporting Hamas and expel its leadership from the country to aid in the resolution of the crisis.
Rep. Russell Fry, who authored the letter to Biden, emphasized the importance of the U.S. supporting Israel in defeating Hamas and ensuring the safe release of all hostages. He expressed concern over the Biden administration potentially turning its back on Israel, placing emphasis on the need for the U.S. to stand with Israel and help in the fight against terrorism. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin reaffirmed the U.S.’ support for Israel during a conversation with his Israeli counterpart, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, stating that the U.S. commitment to Israel’s security against threats from Iran and its proxies is ironclad.
The Republicans’ letter to Biden was prompted by their first-hand observations of the aftermath of the October 7th attacks in Israel. Witnessing the destruction and disruption faced by Israelis following the assault led them to call for increased U.S. support for Israel in defeating terrorist organizations like Hamas. The ongoing threat posed by Iran and its proxies in the Middle East necessitates close contact and cooperation between the U.S. and Israel, with the U.S. affirming its commitment to Israel’s security. The GOP lawmakers reiterated the urgency of ensuring the release of the American hostages still held by Hamas and the importance of working in alignment with Israel to achieve this goal.
