Congressional Latino-Jewish Caucus Meets with Former Hostages and Families of Those Still in Captivity

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Co-Chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Latino-Jewish Caucus, Representatives Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), and Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), issued the following statement after meeting with recently released hostages and family members of current hostages:

"As co-chairs of the bipartisan Latino-Jewish Congressional Caucus, we met with American Keith Siegel-who after an agonizing 15 months of brutal Hamas captivity-was finally reunited in February with his wife, Aviva, who was also held hostage for more than 50 days. Having met with Aviva several times, we are deeply relieved that she and Keith are finally reunited.

"We also heard from other recently released hostages and their loved ones, including Iair Horn, a dual Argentine-Israeli who was taken from his home on October 7 alongside his brother Eitan, who remains in captivity; Liran Berman, the older brother of Ziv and Gali Berman--27-year-old twins kidnapped from their home by Hamas; and Ilay David, the brother of 24-year-old Evyatar David, who was abducted by Hamas while attending the Supernova Music Festival.

"Our hearts break for the victims of October 7. The firsthand accounts of the horrific conditions endured--including mental torture and sexual and physical violence--are deeply disturbing. No human being should ever suffer such cruelty. We assured them that their loved ones are not forgotten.

"It has now been one year and six months since Hamas terrorists launched the deadliest attack in Israel's 76-year history, massacring over 1,200 innocent men, women, and children, and kidnapping more than 250 hostages. Today, 59 hostages, including Americans, remain in Hamas captivity.

"Congress must remain united in unwavering, bipartisan support and solidarity with our ally, Israel, and we must continue efforts to secure the immediate release of the remaining hostages. We will never forget the lives lost, the pain endured, or the families still waiting to be reunited. And we will not stop working for the safe release of all the hostages, and for their captors to be held accountable."

In addition to the co-chairs of the Congressional Latino-Jewish Caucus, the following officials and individuals were present in solidarity during the meeting:

• Alejandro Oxenford, Ambassador of Argentina to the United States
• Dina Siegel Vann, Director of the Arthur and Rochelle Belfer Institute for Latino and Latin American Affairs, American Jewish Committee