The co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Latino-Jewish Caucus, Representatives Mario Díaz-Balart, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and Adriano Espaillat, have released a statement following their meeting with former hostages and their families. Among those present was Keith Siegel, an American who endured 15 months of captivity by Hamas and who was reunited with his wife, Aviva, in February after she was held hostage for over 50 days.
The statement shared their relief for Siegel’s reunion and expressed solidarity with the families of other hostages, such as Iair Horn, whose brother Eitan remains in captivity, and Liran Berman, whose younger siblings, twins Ziv and Gali Berman, were abducted. Ilay David, the brother of Evyatar David, also attended, having suffered the loss of his brother who was kidnapped during the Supernova Music Festival.
The co-chairs condemned the “horrific conditions” described by former hostages, including “mental torture and sexual and physical violence.” They emphasized the unity of Congress in supporting Israel and stressed the importance of ongoing efforts to secure the release of those still being held.
The terror attack, which occurred on October 7 of the previous year, resulted in the death of over 1,200 individuals and the kidnapping of more than 250. It is noted as the deadliest attack in Israel’s 76-year history. As of now, 59 hostages, including Americans, are reportedly still in captivity.
The meeting was attended by various officials, including Alejandro Oxenford, Ambassador of Argentina to the United States, and Dina Siegel Vann, Director of the Arthur and Rochelle Belfer Institute for Latino and Latin American Affairs.
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