U.S. elected officials and Jewish organizations urged Americans to remember the hostages, whom Hamas continues to hold in Gaza, in their Thanksgiving messages.
“As we gather with family today, we must not forget the families who are missing their loved ones who were taken hostage by Hamas 418 days ago, including New York’s own Omer Neutra,” wrote New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat.
“Let us pray that by this time next year, they will be reunited safely with their families,” she added.
Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) wrote, “As you spend Thanksgiving with your family and friends, don’t forget the 100-plus families whose loved ones are being held hostage by Iran-backed Hamas for the second holiday season in a row.”
“It’s been 419 days,” he wrote. “Enough! Bring them home now.”
The Israeli Consulate General in New York, AIPAC, the American Jewish Committee and its CEO, Ted Deutch, called attention to the hostages in their Thanksgiving messages.
“Our tables are incomplete until all 101 hostages are home,” AIPAC stated.
“We can only truly give thanks when every hostage is freed from Gaza,” wrote Arsen Ostrovsky, a human-rights attorney and CEO of the International Legal Forum.
