Yesterday (Wednesday), a delegation of released hostages and their family members, accompanied by representatives of the Kidnapped, Missing and Returnees Administration and officials from the Embassy of Israel in the United States, met with senior lawmakers in the U.S. Congress. The delegation was hosted by Representatives Haley Stevens (D-Michigan), co-chair of the Bipartisan Congressional Hostage Task Force, and Craig Goldman (R-Texas), who filled in for co-chair French Hill (R-Arkansas). The bipartisan meeting was also attended by Representatives from both the Democratic and Republican parties.
During the discussion, members of Congress expressed their support for the released hostages and their families, as well as their commitment to continue working toward securing the return of the three remaining deceased hostages still held by the Hamas terrorist organization.
“To our great hostages who now carry a weight, a story and experience that you never asked for,” Stevens said, “we will be your friends for life. We will be your advocates for life. We will continue to wear our pins, and we will continue to tell your story.”
“We were with you from day one. We thought about you, we watched you, we prayed for you every single day, every single night," Congressman Goldman said. "We will never forget your friends who didn't come home, and your family who didn't come home. But we’re so grateful to see you here, and it’s so wonderful to see your faces."
"Hanukkah is a holiday that brings families together. It's a festival of light, and I know that for a kidnapped person to come from darkness to light is great. Your pictures were on our walls and our hearts, and we continue to wear the yellow ribbon. We are bipartisan here, and there was never a moment when we were not all committed to bringing the kidnapped people home," said Congressman Brad Schneider, “There are four letters on a spinning top, here they say 'a great miracle was there' - but the fact that you are here with us is absolutely 'a great miracle was here'. We will take this miracle of returning home, and turn it into energy for the benefit of security and peace."
Delegation participants thanked the members of Congress for their involvement in efforts to bring them home and for their engagement in efforts to end the war and achieve the return of all hostages. The released hostages and family members emphasized the importance of the U.S.-Israel relationship and the significant contribution of the U.S. administration to stabilizing the security situation during this period.
"Today we were able to bring both sides of the House, Democrats and Republicans together, into one room," said Danny Miran, Omri Miran's father, "This is an opportunity to thank you, American Jewry, and all those who took the trouble and labored and made efforts to bring these wonderful children home. In less than a month, we will be celebrating Hanukkah - the Festival of Lights - thank you very much for all these lights you have lit for us."
“When I was kidnapped from Nir Oz, and separated from my family, my eldest daughter ran after me and shouted 'Dad!' And for six months I didn't know what happened to them, until I saw Lishai on TV. I knew I had something to live for when I saw her," added Omri Miran, "Today my daughter says 'Dad' and I'm here, answering her, and that's thanks to you."
“For me, it's a victory to stand here with my new brothers, and it's thanks to the people in this room that I can stand here, and with a tzizit (prayer shawl)-free," said Bar Kuperstein. "We owe this to you-for fighting for us."
Representatives who attended the bipartisan meeting include:
Haley Stevens (D-Michigan)
Craig Goldman (R-Texas)
Brad Schneider (D-Illinois)
Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Florida)
Brad Sherman (D-California)
Mike Haridopolos (R-Florida)
John McGuire (R-Virginia)
Derrick Van Orden (R-Wisconsin)
Kim Schrier (D-Washington)
Lois Frenkel (D-Florida)
Virginia Foxx (R-North Carolina)
Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio)
Frank Pallone (D-New Jersey)
Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-Georgia)
Photos from the visit are attached