Israel war: Senators emphasize push to rescue American hostages in Gaza

Bipartisan coalitions of senators came together on Wednesday to urge the safe return of the over 100 Americans that Hamas has held hostage since the group’s terror attack in Israel earlier this month.

The Senate has made Israel a top priority this week after Hamas’s Oct. 7 terror attack. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) organized a bipartisan resolution condemning Hamas and an all-members classified briefing. He is also working with GOP leadership on the start of a larger aid bill that will include assistance for Israel.

SENATE WORKING ON MULTIPLE FRONTS WHILE HOUSE REMAINS SPEAKERLESS

A group of 45 members, led by Sens. Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Cory Booker (D-NJ), sent a letter to President Joe Biden on Wednesday demanding he make the hostages his top priority as Gaza becomes engulfed in bloodshed.

The letter was signed by numerous members of leadership on both sides, including Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Senate GOP Conference Chairman John Barrasso (R-WY), and Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT), who chairs the National Republican Senatorial Committee this cycle.

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The missive notes that Hamas “has already killed 30 Americans, and likely injured many more” before encouraging the president “to continue putting your full attention on the freeing of American hostages. Every day must be treated with a sense of urgency.”

“We urge the United States to continue supporting Israel’s urgent efforts to dismantle the threat of Hamas, provide the necessary resources for Israel’s defense, and continue offering whatever support necessary to immediately and safely rescue kidnapped Americans, with particular attention to those who require urgent medical care,” the letter adds.

Later Wednesday, Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) led seven of her colleagues in introducing a resolution calling for Hamas to release the hostages. Sens. Mitt Romney (R-UT), Todd Young (R-IN), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), and Marco Rubio (R-FL) were the GOP co-sponsors, while Democrats were represented by Rosen, Booker, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Ben Cardin (D-MD), and Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL).

Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID), the top Foreign Relations Republican who also serves on the Senate Intelligence Committee, told reporters on Wednesday that he couldn’t comment on the specifics when asked if the Biden administration is doing enough to get the hostages home.

He instead argued that the onus was on Hamas, not the United States or Israel, to get these Americans home safe.

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“Every American wants the Americans home. That is a high, high priority,” Risch said. “But remember, it’s not America that’s responsible for this, and it’s not Israel that’s responsible for this. Somebody ought to ask Hamas that question and say, ‘What are you doing about the hostages?’ Because they have the hostages in their custody. They took them. They’re responsible for them, and only they can answer the questions that you would have.”

Asked how he’d respond if Hamas offered to release the hostages in exchange for avoiding U.S. or Israeli military action, the Idaho senator replied, “There should not be any if on that. They should release the hostages.”