North Miami-Dade News

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The leaders of the Congressional Latino-Jewish Caucus, Representatives Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), and Tony Gonzales (R-TX), have met with the families and friends of hostages who are still being held captive by Hamas. The meeting provided a solemn opportunity for the caucus to hear the horrific stories of the hostages and to express their unwavering solidarity with them.

The hostages, many of whom are dual citizens from Argentina, Colombia, and other Latin American countries, continue to suffer mistreatment at the hands of Hamas terrorists. The Congressional Latino-Jewish Caucus stands united in calling for their immediate release. In light of the rise of antisemitism, hate crimes, terrorism, and sexual violence against women globally, the need to combat these evils has become even more urgent.

"We were appalled by the horrific stories of October 7 that we heard from the group and the mistreatment suffered by those kidnapped," said the caucus members. "As Members of Congress, we remain resolved in our commitment to work towards the return and reunification of the hostages with their families."

During the meeting, the families and friends of the remaining hostages were present to share their experiences and advocate for the release of their loved ones. The hostages who were represented at the meeting include Omri Miran, Elkana Bohbot, Tal Shoham, Alexander (Sasha) Troponov, Sagui Dekel-Chen, and Eitan Horan and Yair Horan. These individuals, who hold dual citizenship with Israel and various other countries, have been held captive by Hamas for an extended period.

The Congressional Latino-Jewish Caucus recognizes the urgency of their situation and will continue to work collectively to bring attention to their plight and advocate for their freedom. The caucus firmly believes in the importance of international cooperation and the protection of human rights in combating terrorism and securing the safe release of hostages.

As the world grapples with the alarming increase in antisemitism and hate crimes, it is crucial for global leaders to stand together in solidarity against these acts of violence. The Congressional Latino-Jewish Caucus remains steadfast in its commitment to fight against these injustices and to support the families affected by the ongoing hostage crisis.

To learn more, click on this link: https://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/englishespanol-congressional-latino-jewish-caucus-leaders-meet-families