[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 60 (Tuesday, April 9, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H2245-H2248]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
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BRING THEM HOME
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of
January 9, 2023, the Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois (Mr.
Schneider) for 30 minutes.
Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, it has been 186 days since the barbaric
Hamas attack on October 7, in which more than 1,200 people were
brutally murdered and more than 250 taken hostage. It has been 186
days, and still 133 people, including 8 Americans, are being held
hostage in Gaza.
Many of the 133 are known to be dead, including 3 of the Americans.
Some were murdered on October 7, and their bodies taken into Gaza.
Some, known to be alive in captivity, have been murdered by their
captors, like Elad Katzir, whose body was recovered just last week in
Khan Yunis.
It has been 186 days, more than 6 months, and there is no indication
of their medical status, no visits from the Red Cross, no word of when
they might come home.
For the families, 186 unbearable days of wondering if their loved one
is dead or alive, is being tortured, or is a victim of sexual violence.
Mr. Speaker, 186 days is unconscionable.
For many weeks, negotiations facilitated by the United States, Egypt,
and Qatar have sought to achieve a cease-fire and bring hostages home.
Israel has accepted the terms. Hamas has, to date, rejected them. The
world waits for Hamas' response.
As Secretary of State Antony Blinken noted earlier today: ``It is
astounding to me that the world is almost deafeningly silent when it
comes to Hamas.''
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to once again bring urgent and necessary
attention to the hostages still held in Gaza. All deserve to be named,
but I will list the Americans, many of whose families are with us in
the gallery here today: Edan Alexander, Sagui Dekel-Chen, Hersh
Goldberg-Polin, Omer Neutra, Keith Siegel, Judi Weinstein and Gad
Haggai, and Itay Chen.
My heart goes out to the families and friends of those hostages who
have yet to be released, who have no information about the well-being
of their loved ones, whether they are alive, injured, or dead.
I refuse to let the hostages be forgotten. We must bring them home.
Mr. Speaker, tonight, with my colleagues, we stand on the House floor
imploring Congress to work to save the hostages. We also honor the
families of those who were killed or taken hostage on October 7.
Tonight, a number of these families present in the House gallery
continue to call for our government to do all it can to bring the
remaining hostages home including: Rachel Goldberg and Jon Polin,
parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, a 23-year-old Chicago native who
attended the Tribe of Nova music festival on October 7.
Jonathan Dekel-Chen, father of Sagui Dekel-Chen, a 35-year-old
husband and father who was 200 yards from his kibbutz when Hamas
terrorists invaded the area on October 7. After sounding the alarm for
his neighbors, he joined the kibbutz' security team to push back on
Hamas. His mother was also taken captive but escaped when an IDF
helicopter shot at the vehicle taking her away.
Ronen and Orna Neutra, parents of Omer Neutra, a 21-year-old member
of the IDF who was in a tank defending the Gaza border on October 7. He
grew up in New York and was living in Israel before attending
university in the United States.
Adi and Yael Alexander, parents of Edan Alexander, a 19-year-old
member of the IDF who was stationed near Gaza at the time of the
attack.
Andrea Weinstein, sister of Judi Weinstein, who was killed on October
7. Judi, age 70, grew up in Canada but was born in New York.
Liz Hirsh Naftali, the great aunt of 3-year-old Abigail, who was
kidnapped and taken alone to Gaza after her parents were murdered in
front of her eyes by Hamas terrorists.
We honor the memories of those who have died, and we pray for those
who are still in captivity.
I thank all my colleagues who have joined me here today as we work to
make sure that we bring those hostages home.
General Leave
Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all members
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and
insert extraneous material into the Record on the subject of this
Special Order.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Illinois?
There was no objection.
Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Florida,
(Ms. Wasserman Schultz), my good friend and colleague who joined me in
Israel just 2 weeks ago on a mission to understand what Israel was
going through and how we can make a difference.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for
yielding and for his leadership in calling all of us together in
support of bringing all of our hostages home.
I am reminding the world that Hamas still has American hostages in
its grip. We are joined tonight in the gallery by several of their
family members who have spent every night for over half a year praying,
mourning, hoping beyond hope for their loved ones' safe return.
Our number one job as elected officials is providing for the safety,
security, and integrity of the American people. We cannot rest while a
terrorist group that has murdered Americans continues to hold Americans
hostage.
Nothing is more critical than what President Biden and his
administration are doing every day. He is fighting tirelessly to bring
Americans and the rest of the hostages home right now through a
temporary cease-fire agreement.
It is unconscionable that Hamas continues to reject a hostage deal
and hold over 130 hostages in Gaza. It is despicable that these sick,
violent fiends refuse to allow the hostages to be reunited with their
families and cling like vultures to the remains of innocent
civilians they have tortured, starved, and murdered in order to use
them as political leverage.
Our message to these families, our regional partners, and the
American people is consistent and clear. Hamas must not succeed. The
hostages must come home.
I joined my colleague from Illinois 2 weeks ago, and we both led
side-by-side congressional delegations, I for women Members of
Congress, where we met with the parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who we
have met with numerous times, and many of the family members that are
here tonight.
Rachel and Jon are here tonight as well, and their strength and
commitment alongside all of the American families to be reunited with
their loved ones is inspiring. The love of a parent knows no bounds.
Once the hostages are released, we look forward to welcoming you all
back to this Chamber in celebration of your families being made whole
again. Please know that I, personally and on behalf of my constituents,
carry all of your loved ones in my heart each and every day.
I am proud President Biden and Vice President Harris have stood by
Israel's side all of this time, defending the American and Israeli
people and using leverage to push our allies and partners to get a deal
done.
There has been a deal on the table, and that continues to be
negotiated today, spearheaded by President Biden, backed by Israel,
Egypt, and Qatar, that will get hostages home, aid into Gaza, and a
pause in the fighting.
[[Page H2246]]
Hamas can end all the pain in hearts right here around us and in that
region. If they had any interest in safeguarding Palestinians, this
could all be over right now. Egypt, Qatar, and leaders with leverage
must insist that Hamas accepts this deal. Anyone who wants to see a
temporary cease-fire, the release of hostages, and a just and lasting
peace must demand it of Hamas.
It has been 186 days. Our fellow Americans must come home now. Those
who have been lost must be brought home and laid to rest. Until that
day, we will continue to stand together, arm in arm with these families
and with our ally, Israel.
Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time is
remaining.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Illinois has 21 minutes
remaining.
Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Indiana
(Mr. Baird), my colleague. I am proud that support for Israel and the
call for bringing the hostages home is something that we work together
collaboratively on both sides of the aisle.
Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time.
Mr. Speaker, Hamas has committed countless acts of cruelty against
the Israeli people since last year's unprovoked attack. Thousands lost
their lives when Hamas stormed into Israel this past October to
terrorize Jewish communities and brutalize their people.
Many families have mourned the loss of loved ones while others still
live with the uncertainty of knowing if their family members are held
in captivity.
I have had the opportunity to speak with the families of those
hostages on multiple occasions, including some of those here tonight.
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I stood shoulder to shoulder with them as they recount the terrible
pain they have experienced as they nervously await news of their loved
ones.
Despite the overwhelming grief these families have experienced, they
continue to share their stories to shine a light on the true scale of
Hamas' inhumanity.
I appreciate them for remaining in the spotlight to remind the world
of the terrible atrocities committed by Hamas.
Their courage is a testament to the strength of the Israeli people
and all those who have been victimized by the Hamas terrorists.
We will continue to fight for the release of all the hostages that
are still held in captivity and stand with our friends in Israel in
their struggle for their lasting security.
Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from North
Carolina (Ms. Manning), my friend, who also traveled with us to Israel
2 weeks ago.
Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend Representative
Schneider for bringing us together to push for the release of the
hostages.
Mr. Speaker, it has been 6 months since Hamas terrorists invaded
Israel to carry out gruesome attacks, raping, mutilating, slaughtering
civilians, and taking innocent people hostage. Here we are 6 months
later and 130 hostages remain captive in Gaza.
I recently returned from a congressional delegation trip to Israel. I
saw firsthand the savage and diabolical nature of the October 7 attack.
I visited Kibbutz Kfar Aza, one of the communities that was burned
and pillaged. I saw the devastating destruction that resulted when
Hamas went house to house killing people by throwing grenades in their
homes, spraying them with bullets, and setting their homes on fire
while young people were hiding inside. The deliberate cruelty was
shocking, gut-wrenching, and unforgettable.
Kibbutz Kfar Aza is where Aviva and Keith Siegel were taken by Hamas.
Keith Siegel is an American citizen from my home State of North
Carolina. For 6 months, Keith has been held hostage by these
terrorists. I think about Keith and all the hostages every single day.
Aviva spent 51 days in captivity and thankfully she was released in
November. Since her release, she has spoken out about the horrifying
sexual abuse and violence she saw Hamas use on the hostages. It is hard
to imagine what the women still being held captive today must be
experiencing.
It is hard to anticipate the condition they will be in when they are
finally returned. For the young women who are being raped and tortured,
I am deeply worried that they will be pregnant as a result of their
rapes in captivity.
During my visit to Israel, I met with Dr. Cochav Elkayam-Levy, the
chair of Israel's Civil Commission on October 7 Crimes by Hamas Against
Women and Families. She is working tirelessly to gather testimony and
the evidence of the sexual abuse of women and families. She says the
job of viewing and archiving the evidence is particularly tough on her
staff.
So are the death threats they get from people who don't want to see
the evidence of those horrific crimes collected for the world to see.
The accounts of sexual violence she shared can only be described as
evil, carried out to inflict maximum physical, emotional, and
psychological pain on women and girls.
We cannot allow the world to ignore what has happened and we cannot
allow the world to forget the hostages. The world cannot be allowed to
ignore the truth that Hamas has the power to end the war they started
by releasing the remaining hostages.
Time and time again, Hamas has refused cease-fire deals and refused
to release the hostages. It is shocking that the world is not
protesting Hamas, calling out Hamas for starting this war and
continuing it, hiding behind women and children, and prolonging the
suffering of two peoples.
Let me be clear: Hamas must release the hostages and stop all the
suffering they have caused and are continuing to cause.
Mr. Speaker, I thank, again, my dear friend, Representative
Schneider, for his leadership and for organizing this time together for
us to continue our call for every single hostage to be brought home.
Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from
California (Mrs. Torres), another one of our colleagues who joined us
on that trip 2 weeks ago.
Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for
yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to demand the immediate release and safe return
of the remaining hostages in Gaza who have now spent half a year in
captivity.
The words of a mother: ``I love you. Stay strong. Survive.'' This is
the mental message Rachel Goldberg-Polin sends her son Hersh every
single day. He is an American who is among the 130 hostages still held
captive by terrorist Hamas for 186 days. The 130 hostages are not mere
numbers, they are people with stories and families who love them and
desperately want to see them home.
Three of these hostages are American citizens. Hersh Goldberg is a
vibrant 23-year-old California native who loves soccer, traveling, and
spending time with his family and friends. He fought for unity and
equality in Israel as a leader of an initiative to bring Israeli and
Palestinian children together through soccer.
I spoke with his mother, his parents, who are with us tonight, in
Israel last month. They are in a constant state of profound trauma not
knowing whether their son is dead or alive, not knowing if their son
will ever come home.
All they know about their child came from survivor accounts and from
watching terrorist Hamas' GoPro footage of the October 7 massacre.
Hersh was last seen on October 7 with his left arm blown off by
terrorist Hamas' grenades, and his body was loaded into a truck heading
into Gaza at gunpoint. His last messages to his parents read: ``I love
you. I am sorry.''
Despite the horrifying images, Hersh's mother, Rachel, says that hope
is mandatory.
Mr. Speaker, here in Congress, hope is not enough. I join my
colleagues in calling for the immediate release of all hostages held by
Hamas terrorists and I urge the administration to continue to do
everything in its power to help free the hostages like Hersh and ensure
their safe return.
I will not allow the hostages to be forgotten. They are not a
terrorist group's political pawn, and I stand with their families in
calling for an immediate return.
[[Page H2247]]
Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, last week there were 19 Members of the
Republican freshman class who were in Israel.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Yakym), one
of those 19 Members.
Mr. YAKYM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to continue to call for the
immediate and unconditional release of all hostages being held by Hamas
in Gaza.
Hamas committed unspeakable war crimes 186 days ago on October 7.
Since that day, we have borne witness to stories of the atrocities
committed by Hamas from survivors of the attack and from hostages who
have been released.
Last week, I traveled to Israel and saw the aftermath of Hamas'
slaughter firsthand. While in Israel, I visited Kibbutz Nir Oz, which
prior to Hamas' attack had 400 residents.
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In that kibbutz, we walked through homes where men, women, children,
and elderly were murdered or taken hostage. It is estimated that 25
percent of Nir Oz's residents were either killed or abducted and taken
hostage by Hamas. Hamas showed utter disregard for human life.
I also met with Rachel Goldberg and Jon Polin, whose American-Israeli
son, Hersh, was taken hostage by Hamas. Hersh remains in captivity
today. I am grateful that Rachel and Jon are here tonight, along with
several other families whose loved ones are being held in Gaza. I
admire their strength, especially in a time of such immense hardship.
I hope they know that their loved ones are not forgotten. We must
continue to call for the release of every last hostage until they have
all come home.
The fastest way for this conflict to end is for Hamas to release
every hostage and surrender.
It is past time to bring them all home. I thank my good friend, the
gentleman from Illinois, Brad Schneider, for organizing tonight's
Special Order. I thank him for his leadership.
Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from
Massachusetts (Mr. Auchincloss).
Mr. AUCHINCLOSS. Mr. Speaker, today, we stand against anti-Semitism
and in solidarity with the hostages and their families. We stand
together against the depravity of Hamas holding innocent men, women,
and children hostage for 6 brutal months. We proclaim with one voice
that the hostages must be returned immediately and unconditionally.
We stand together against the surge in anti-Jewish and anti-Israel
hate crimes. We proclaim with one voice that anti-Semitism and the
delegitimization of Israel have no place in our country.
My forebears in Ukraine learned through torment that hate may begin
with solitary, anonymous acts of desecration, but it does not end
there. Hate does not end unless we drag cowardly anti-Semitic actions
into the daylight, bear witness as a community to their personal and
penetrating effects, and resolve together that we are our neighbor's
keeper.
I am committed to all measures that will counter the scourge of anti-
Semitism and that will hasten the return of the hostages.
We must all strive for an America that is true to its ideals and an
Israel that is secure and democratic, where in both countries ``all sit
under their own vines and under their own fig trees, and no one shall
make them afraid.''
Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New York
(Mr. Goldman).
Mr. GOLDMAN of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Illinois
for scheduling this Special Order.
I rise here tonight once again to lift up the 133 hostages--innocent
babies, grandparents, young women who have suffered from awful sexual
abuse, and so many others--who were all brutally and illegally captured
on October 7 by Hamas, a terrorist organization that has held them in
treacherous conditions for 6 months.
We don't actually know how many are alive because Hamas has violated
just about every single humanitarian law that exists and will not
provide a basic list of those who are alive or even provide wellness
checks and daily medication to the elderly. Eight of these hostages are
Americans, three of whom are sadly now confirmed dead.
Three weeks ago, Itay Chen, a 19-year-old soldier in the IDF who was
on the border of Gaza on October 7, was determined to have been killed
on that fateful day.
Hagit and Ruby, Itay's parents, my constituents who are here tonight
with several other families of hostages, have fearlessly and
courageously led the families of hostages to focus our attention on the
urgent need to bring them home. Ruby and the other hostage families
should not have to work so hard to keep the hostages front of mind.
Since when do Americans show indifference to eight of our own held
hostage by a terrorist group? Since when do international organizations
and democratic countries around the world simply allow a terrorist
group to hold hostages from 26 different countries captive for 6 months
with deafening silence? Is it only because they are Jewish that they
are viewed differently?
We all want this conflict to end. We want the violence to stop. Let
me give you two simple actions that can end this conflict immediately.
First, Hamas can lay down their arms and relinquish control of the Gaza
Strip. Second, and most importantly, Hamas must release all the
hostages, including the deceased bodies. That will end this today.
There was a permanent cease-fire on October 7 when Hamas executed the
worst terrorist attack on the Jewish people since the Holocaust. Hamas
has vowed to repeat that attack over and over again if given the
opportunity.
Just imagine if after 9/11, al-Qaida controlled Mexico or Canada and
vowed to continue to attack the United States from our own border again
and again. Would a single person in this country have called for us to
retreat and let al-Qaida remain in power next door, poised to replicate
9/11 again? Of course not.
There are many calls for some kind of cease-fire, and there is no
question that some kind of cease-fire is long overdue, even though
everyone seems to have a different understanding of the term.
No question Israel must do its part. The Israeli Government must
increase humanitarian aid so that displaced Palestinians can get the
food and medical care they need. They have been doing that much more
robustly since a conversation between President Biden and Prime
Minister Netanyahu last week. The Israeli Government must be willing to
enter into a reasonable agreement to stop the violence and get the
hostages out.
One requirement of any reasonable, rational cease-fire agreement must
include that the innocent, tortured, illegally held hostages are
released. I dare, I challenge, anyone in this building, in my district
in New York City, or in any of the 435 districts around this country to
publicly say that a cease-fire agreement of any kind need not include
the return of the illegally abducted hostages.
Israel has no control over the hostages. Hamas does. If any
reasonable cease-fire agreement necessarily includes the return of
hostages--and it must--then there can be no cease-fire agreement of any
kind if Hamas is not a party to that agreement. If you are calling for
a cease-fire, then you must call on Hamas to release the hostages.
I say to our administration, I say to my colleagues on both sides of
the aisle, on both sides of this Capitol, I say to our allies around
the world, Hamas and the countries that harbor and communicate with
their leadership must feel much greater pressure to release the
hostages. More and more are dying every day. We must bring them home.
We must bring them home now.
Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time is
remaining.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Illinois has 1 minute
remaining.
Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, with your indulgence, I would like to
read into the Record the statement from our colleague from Maryland,
Mr. Steny Hoyer.
``Mr. Speaker, I rise today''----
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman will suspend.
The gentleman's request was to read another Member's statement into
the Record; is that correct?
Mr. SCHNEIDER. Yes, if that is allowed by the rules.
[[Page H2248]]
The SPEAKER pro tempore. If the gentleman would like, he can include
the remarks in the Record under general leave.
Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, what I would like to do, on behalf of our
colleague from Maryland, Mr. Steny Hoyer, is submit for the Record his
statement talking about American hostage Itay Chen, who was deemed to
have been murdered on October 7. His family is waiting to bring his
body home before they honor him with a funeral and sit the Jewish
tradition of shiva, 7 days of mourning. They will not have that
opportunity to sit shiva until Itay's body is returned.
We all join with the Chen family, with all of Israel, waiting for the
return of every hostage, not just those living but those who are deemed
deceased.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair would remind Members that the
rules do not allow references to persons in the gallery.
Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker. I rise today, as I have at several special
order hours these past six months, on behalf of Itay Chen and his
family.
This is the first time I've done so since we learned the devastating
news that Hamas terrorists killed Itay on October 7.
An American Israeli serving bravely in the IDF, he died defending
innocent Israeli civilians from Hamas' brutal, cowardly surprise
attack.
He was only nineteen years old.
Not satisfied with killing this courageous defender, the terrorists
took Itay's body into Gaza, where it remains. Doing so was an act of
supreme moral depravity and dishonor.
When I first met Itay's father Ruby shortly after October 7, he gave
me this dogtag which says: ``Bring Them Home Now.''
Mr. Speaker, I rise today because our commitment to bring his son
home has not changed.
Itay deserves to be laid to rest with the honor that befits a hero
and with the dignity that befits every human life.
His family deserves to sit Shiva and to process this terrible loss
properly.
They cannot get that closure, however, until we secure Itay's
remains.
They have my word, Mr. Speaker, that our Government will not yield
until they are reunited with their son.
Nor will we stop until all the remaining hostages--those living and
those not--are returned to their families.
Until then, we will keep supporting the Chens and the other families
waiting to put their loved ones to rest.
We will stand with the families who still hold out hope for their
loved ones' safe return--a hope that we all share.
And we will keep fighting for the release of those hostages who
remain in Gaza.
May Itay's memory be a blessing, and may his spirit continue to give
us the strength necessary to bring these hostages home.
Mr. WILLIAMS of New York. Mr. Speaker, six brutal months have passed,
and over half of the Israeli hostages taken by Hamas on October 7th
have still not been released. This is nothing short of an unthinkable
crime against humanity. It is inhuman.
Each of the remaining hostages, these are human beings. Human beings
with individual hopes and dreams, just like you and me. Each one has a
family and loved ones back home in Israel, devastated by their
kidnapping and desperately begging for their release. Many are
children, or elderly, with no involvement in any combat whatsoever.
Last week, I saw the Nir Oz Kibbutz and the site of the Tribe of Nova
Music Festival, where so many Israelis were kidnapped on October 7th,
and many more were killed. I heard firsthand accounts from survivors on
the ground, you can still hear the pain in their voices. Even then,
that pain is incomparable to the ongoing trauma of those who were taken
hostage by these terrorists, their specific whereabouts and conditions
still unknown.
The attacks of October 7th were and continue to be crimes against
humanity. Americans looked on in horror as videos emerged of the
bloodshed and the destruction. Mothers and fathers across our country,
including myself, were overcome with intense emotion. Think about your
child, if they were torn away from you, or worse, as so many were.
America is unified in standing with the Israeli hostages and their
families. On Sunday, thousands gathered in New York City and called for
the immediate, unconditional release of the Israeli hostages. We raised
our voices as one, and our message will be heard.
Tonight, I echo that one, simple demand of these devastated families.
Not one more day should go by without the safe return of all Israeli
hostages from Gaza.
To the families here tonight, whose loved ones were taken on October
7th, I want to express my most sincere and heartfelt sympathy for the
suffering that you have bravely endured over these long six months. For
those whose loved ones have not yet been returned, we all pray for
their safe release.
May God bless all of you. America stands with you and for the safe
return of all Israeli hostages.
Bring them home, now.
____________________