Ernst Joins Hostage Families in Calling for Release of Americans
Iran-backed Hamas has held Americans captive for over 100 days.
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), alongside families of the hostages held by Iran-backed Hamas, demanded action to bring Americans home immediately and called for more of her colleagues in Congress to join her in putting pressure on Hamas.
Ernst recounted leading a recent bipartisan, bicameral delegation to four countries in the Middle East, where she met with leaders in the region to pressure Hamas, so Americans can return home and families can be reunited.
Click here to watch the full remarks.
Background:
In the wake of the horrific terrorist attacks on Israel by Iran-backed Hamas, Ernst met with the hostage families in Israel and has remained in close contact with them.
In October, Ernst led a bipartisan group of her colleagues urging President Biden to focus his full attention on freeing American hostages taken by Hamas. In December, Ernst led a bipartisan letter calling on President Joe Biden to leverage the U.S. diplomatic relationship with Qatar to secure the immediate release of the remaining hostages.
She recently returned from leading a bipartisan, bicameral delegation to Egypt, Israel, Qatar, and Bahrain solely focused on securing the immediate release of American hostages.
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