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Both major candidates have pledged to prioritize the safe return of these Americans, spotlighting the urgency of hostage recovery in the broader Israel-Hamas conflict.
By Corey Walker, Algemeiner
As US voters headed to the polls on Tuesday to select their next president and representatives in Congress, supporters of Israel issued reminders that seven Americans were unable to join their fellow countrymen because they were still being held hostage in Gaza by the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas.
On Oct. 7 of last year, Hamas-led Palestinian terrorists murdered 45 Americans and abducted 12 into Gaza during their massacre across southern Israel. As of now, seven American hostages remain in Hamas captivity in Gaza. Four of them — Keith Siegel, Omer Neutra, Sagui Dekel-Chen, and Edan Alexander — are thought to still be alive. The other three — Itay Chen, Gad Haggai, and Judi Weinstein Haggai — are believed to be murdered by the terrorist group with their bodies still in the Palestinian enclave.
On Tuesday, election day in the US, some pro-Israel voters urged the electorate to keep the American hostages in mind as they made their selections.
“Remember that while you are voting today, there are a lot of people who can’t — like the American hostages who are being held captive by Hamas,” Seattle radio host Ari Hoffman posted on X/Twitter.
“As we exercise our democratic rights, we will not forget those denied theirs,” added the American Jewish Committee. “For 396 days, US citizens Itay, Eden, Keith, Sagui, Gadi, Judith, and Omer have been held hostage by Hamas — three of them have been murdered. Remember them as you and millions of Americans exercise your right to vote.”
Over the weekend, Jewish actor and comedian Michael Rapaport expressed similar sentiments, saying his election “endorsement” is for the hostages.
“I’ve endorsed ISRAEL, JEWS, & the HOSTAGES. My endorsement is for the 101 Hostages to be freed. My endorsement is for the 7 American Hostages to be released. I endorse all Jews & Zionists,” he posted on social media.
The Biden administration, in which Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris currently serves as vice president, has faced criticism from both sides of the political aisle for being unable to secure the release of the remaining hostages in Gaza.
Criticism spiked when American-Israel hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin was murdered by Hamas terrorists two months ago right before Israel Defense Force (IDF) soldiers could rescue him. He was found along with five other hostages in a tunnel in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. Hamas terrorists had executed them prior to a raid by Israeli forces.
Both Harris and her Republican opponent, former President Donald Trump, have promised to prioritize the return of the American hostages if they were to win the White House.
While speaking at an event focusing on antisemitism in August, Trump suggested that Hamas would suffer consequences if he wins the presidency and the hostages are not returned.
“We want our hostages back, and they better be back before I assume office,” Trump said. “They’re not going to keep people around for now three years; they’re not going to be taking care of them for three years.”
One month earlier, Trump called for the release of all American hostages around the world during the final night of the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Trump has also repeatedly blamed Harris and incumbent President Joe Biden for the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel, arguing that their supposed weakness emboldened Hamas to attack the Jewish state.
Harris has also made the release of the hostages a focal point in many of her campaign speeches. The vice president has also met with the families of the American hostages, promising that she would do everything in her power to ensure their safe return home.
“[The Israel-Hamas war] must end immediately, and the way it will end is we need a ceasefire deal, and we need the hostages out,” Harris said during her presidential debate with Trump in September.
Securing the freedom of the hostages remains a priority for Americans invested in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. According to an Harvard-Harris poll from last month, nearly 7 in 10 Americans said they believe that Israel should only strike a ceasefire deal with Hamas after the hostages are freed.
According to the poll, Americans believe Trump will be more “effective” at resolving the Israel-Hamas war than Harris by a margin of 47-37 percent.
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