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As the stage is set for a pivotal US presidential debate this week, the families of several American hostages held in Gaza are making urgent appeals to presidential candidates Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. Their heartfelt requests center on the immediate need for new strategies to secure the release of their loved ones.
“We want to hear that they care. We want to know that both candidates recognize the plight of the seven Americans still in captivity and that the US is fully committed to bringing them home,” expressed Ronen Neutra, a US-Israeli dual citizen from New York. His son, Omer, a 22-year-old Israeli soldier, was abducted during the violent October 7 attacks.
Frustration runs deep among families who have watched their attempts to free their loved ones falter over the past 11 months. Adi Alexander, another anguished parent, stated, “Enough is enough.” His son, Edan, was also taken by Hamas while serving in the Israeli military.
The families are calling for fresh perspectives from both candidates. Ruby Chen, a US-Israeli citizen and mother of a 19-year-old son killed in the attacks, challenged the candidates to articulate clear plans for securing the return of hostages. “We want to hear new ideas and a commitment to a fresh approach,” she said.
The families believe that new strategies should involve:
They pointed to recent successful negotiations between Washington and Moscow to bring back US citizens as a model to follow. “They showed great creativity in a complex deal for Evan Gershkovich,” noted Alexander.
Interestingly, some relatives are advocating for greater pressure to be placed on Israel. They believe that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government is obstructing US-led negotiations to appease hardliners within his coalition. “We would support curbing US aid to Israel as a way to push Netanyahu towards a deal,” Neutra revealed.
The sentiment is clear: the families are urging bold actions from their leaders. “This is a real life-and-death situation,” Neutra emphasized.
Currently, over 100 hostages remain in Gaza, where living conditions are deteriorating due to ongoing conflict. Freed hostages have reported severe shortages of food and water, along with mental and physical abuse from their captors.
The recent recovery of six murdered hostages sparked mass protests in Israel, with demonstrators demanding that Netanyahu's government make a deal to free those still held. Despite the public outcry, Netanyahu remains resolute in his military strategy, focusing on defeating Hamas rather than prioritizing hostage negotiations.
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