10.18.23

Hoeven, Colleagues to President: Do Everything Possible to Rescue American Hostages Held in Gaza

WASHINGTON. – Senator John Hoeven today pressed President Joe Biden to do everything in his power to free American hostages taken by Hamas from Israel, and to support Israel’s efforts to dismantle the threat of Hamas. Hoeven was part of a bipartisan, bicameral group of 49 lawmakers, led by Senators Joni Ernst and Cory Booker, who urged the President to put his full attention on freeing Americans being held hostage.

“Hamas has already killed 30 Americans and likely injured many more… With U.S. citizens still missing in the aftermath of the terror group’s brutal attack, we urge you to continue putting your full attention on the freeing of American hostages. Every day must be treated with a sense of urgency,” write the lawmakers.

“As a result, 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.”

In addition to Hoeven, Ernst and Booker, the letter was signed by Senators Ricketts (R-Neb.), Tuberville (R-Ala.), Tillis (R-N.C.), Britt (R-Ala.), Boozman (R-Ark.), Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Graham (R-S.C.), Grassley (R-Iowa), Capito (R-W.Va.), Cassidy (R-La.), Mullin (R-Okla.), Scott (R-Fla.), Wicker (R-Miss.), Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Casey (D-Pa.), Brown (D-Ohio), Padilla (D-Calif.), Coons (D-Del.), Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Tester (D-Mont.), Smith (D-Minn.), Shaheen (D-N.H.), Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Durbin (D-Ill.), Murphy (D-Conn.), Rosen (D-Nev.), Daines (R-Mont.), Risch (R-Idaho), Duckworth (D-Ill.), Cornyn (R-Texas), Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Baldwin (D-Wis.), Bennet (D-Colo.), Sullivan (R-Alaska), Lankford (R-Okla.), Warner (D-Va.), Schatz (D-Hawaii), Van Hollen (D-Md.), Kelly (D-Ariz.), Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Cramer (R-N.D.), Budd (R-N.C.), and Representatives Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa), Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), and Issa (R-Calif.).

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