Ernst-led Delegation Travels to Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Qatar

WASHINGTON – On her fourth trip to stand with Israel since the October 7 attacks, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), co-chair of the Abraham Accords Caucus, returned to the Middle East with U.S. Representatives Jim Banks (R-Ind.), John Curtis (R-Utah), and Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa) to help move a deal forward that ensures the survival of Israel, destroys Hamas’ ability to reconstitute in the region, and brings the American hostages home.

After the heartbreaking news of the murder of Hersh Goldberg-Polin at the hands of Iran-backed Hamas, Ernst reiterated even greater urgency to bring home Americans still held by Iran-backed Hamas.

Senator Ernst said:

“Every second counts when Americans are being held by Iran-backed Hamas. On my fourth trip to Israel since October 7, this delegation’s mission was clear: pave a way to bring our citizens home and decimate Iran-backed Hamas.

“As leaders throughout the region expressed that the Biden-Harris administration’s actions have created confusion about America’s loyalties and leadership, even while the Iranian regime’s proxies are holding and murdering our countrymen, the need for our work became more evident. 

“We must keep working on a deal that ensures the forever survival of Israel, destroys Hamas’ ability to reconstitute in the region, and releases our hostages. During this visit, we pressed regional officials to use their leverage to secure such a deal. 

“While Biden and Harris waffle in their support and betray our greatest ally in the Middle East, I will not waver until every American is returned home and Iran-backed terrorists are destroyed.”

Representative Banks said:

“The tragic news earlier this week that Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an American, was one of the six hostages executed by Hamas underscores the urgency of our delegation’s ultimate goal: to reestablish American leadership so we can bring our hostages home, help Israel protect itself, and eliminate Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah. The weak and wavering leadership from the Biden-Harris administration has been ineffective in achieving that goal. Thank you to Senator Ernst for leading this important trip.”

Representative Curtis said:

“My visits to Israel, Jordan, Egypt, and Qatar are a stark reminder of the urgent need to bring the hostages home and for a peaceful resolution in the Middle East. As I return to my safe home, I pray for a solution that ends the fighting, brings stability to the region, eradicates antisemitism, and allows Jews and Arabs to prosper together.”

Representative Miller-Meeks said:

"Following Hamas’s unprovoked, heinous invasion of Israel on Oct 7, we have been diligently meeting with families and Heads of State to advocate for the release of all hostages still being held in Hamas captivity. Hamas’s recent murder of six hostages, including American citizen Hersh Goldberg Polin, is yet another tragedy that underscores the brutality of this terrorist organization. We will continue to forcefully push for the release of all the hostages."

In Israel, the delegation met with Prime Minister Netanyahu to reaffirm support for our greatest ally in the Middle East as the Israeli Defense Forces work to choke Hamas’ ability to operate and release American hostages.

During the trip, Ernst led the first delegation into Northern Israel since Iran-backed Hezbollah targeted and killed children in Majdal Shams, where they brought attention to how Israel is being attacked on all fronts.

In Jordan, the delegation met with King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein and discussed deterring Iranian aggression and a path forward to rescuing hostages and restoring stability in the region.

In Egypt, the lawmakers toured the Sinai Peninsula and met with President Abdel Fattah El Sisi to discuss Egypt’s role in denying Hamas weapons and resources.

At the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, Ernst, a combat veteran, met with servicemembers from Iowa who chose to protect and defend America.

In the delegation’s meeting with Qatar’s Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, the lawmakers called on our partner to stop harboring Iran-backed Hamas.

While meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Saudi Arabia, the delegation reiterated the kingdom’s important role in creating stability in the Middle East.

Background:

On October 7, 2023, Ernst was in the Middle East and went into Israel just days after Iran-backed Hamas’ attacks to show her support for our ally.

Since then, she has kept up the pressure to bring the hostages home, held the Biden-Harris administration accountable to their “ironclad” commitment, and continued to stand with Israel.

In January 2024, she returned to the Middle East and advocated for the release of the hostages in meetings with senior leadership and lead negotiators in Egypt, Israel, Qatar, and Bahrain.

In May 2024, she was in Israel when she received reports that the United States withheld an ammunition shipment to Israel and immediately demanded answers from President Biden to hold him accountable for his “ironclad” commitment to our greatest ally in the Middle East.

###