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Hostages’ families to be hosted by Congress on Capitol Hill

The event is being organized by the bipartisan Congressional Israel Allies Caucus.

Pictures of civilians held hostage by Hamas terrorists in Gaza, in Jerusalem, Nov. 14, 2023. Photo by Chaim Goldberg/Flash90.
Pictures of civilians held hostage by Hamas terrorists in Gaza, in Jerusalem, Nov. 14, 2023. Photo by Chaim Goldberg/Flash90.

Family members of hostages being held in Gaza, along with Israelis whose loved ones were murdered in last month’s deadly Hamas attack, will be hosted on Capitol Hill on Tuesday in a show of solidarity with the State of Israel.

The event, which is being organized by the bipartisan Congressional Israel Allies Caucus, will follow the major rally in support of Israel being held in Washington, D.C., and comes five weeks after the worst single attack on the Jewish people since the Holocaust.

“The bi-partisan nature of faith-based diplomacy can be felt in legislatures around the world as we fight the bias and distortions we see in the United Nations,” said Israeli Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan.

The Congressional event, which will be hosted by Caucus co-chairs Reps. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.), Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.), Brad Schneider (D-Ill.), and Chris Smith (R-N.J.) together with other members of Congress, will include Israeli, Jewish and Christian leaders, who will join together for a discussion on the war in Gaza and rising antisemitism in the United States.

The event’s featured speakers will include family members of hostages being held in Gaza as well as familes of the victims of the Oct. 7 massacre. Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations Erdan and Economy Minister Nir Barkat are also scheduled to address the event.

At least 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed in the Hamas assault, while roughly 240 others were taken hostage to Gaza.

Founded in 2006, the bipartisan Congressional Israel Allies Caucus was the first in a parliamentary network of more than 50 pro-Israel caucuses the world over which mobilize political support for Israel based on shared Judeo-Christian values.

Run under the aegis of the Israel Allies Foundation, this faith-based powerhouse is testament to the burgeoning relations between Israel and the predominantly supportive evangelical Christian community around the world.

“We are playing a key role on the political frontline for Israel in Congress right now, advancing pro-Israel initiatives, speaking out in the media, and introducing legislation to ensure Israel has the tools it needs to fight Hamas,” said Jordanna McMillan, U.S. director of the Israel Allies Foundation.

“As a historic ally of Israel, the United States continues to stand with us in our most crucial time,” said Josh Reinstein, president of the Israel Allies Foundation. “We are confident that through our bi-partisan efforts, good will indeed prevail over evil.”

Etgar Lefkovits, an award-winning international journalist, is an Israel correspondent and a feature news writer for JNS. A native of Chicago, he has two decades of experience in journalism, having served as Jerusalem correspondent in one of the world’s most demanding positions. He is currently based in Tel Aviv.
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