Add news
News Every Day |

Incoming Congress' first order of business: Win release of the Hamas hostages

As the new U.S. Congress convened, the 98 hostages being held by Hamas – including seven Americans – must be an immediate priority. 

The fact that the 118th Congress failed to secure the release of American citizens held for over a year in Hamas dungeons in Gaza will forever remain a stain on its record. The 119th session would do well to advocate for their release in actions and not just words. 

Our newly elected officials should wield the full power of both chambers to support President-elect Trump’s sentiments that there will be "hell to pay" if the hostages aren’t released by his inauguration and follow up with those that defy the demand of the president. 

7 US HOSTAGES STILL HELD BY HAMAS TERRORISTS AS FAMILIES PLEAD FOR THEIR RELEASE: 'THIS IS URGENT'

While the negotiations with Hamas flow mostly through the Oval Office, Congressional bodies such as the Foreign Affairs, Finance, Appropriations, and Judiciary committees, as well as individual House leaders, must play a more crucial role in demonstrating there is no daylight between the incoming administration and Congress on the topic of U.S. hostages.

The Senate’s Foreign Affairs Committee will undoubtedly play a key role as the only committee with jurisdiction to deliberate and report on treaties submitted by the president to the Senate for consideration. The committee can directly summon ambassadors involved in the hostage negotiations such as those representing Qatar, Turkey, and Egypt, to demand to know why U.S. citizens are still being held hostage. It can also make direct correlation between countries actively seeking with the U.S. long-term strategic defense treaties as in the case of Saudi Arabia to actively supporting the release of American hostages.

As for the Judiciary Committee, it has a critical role in providing oversight over the Department of Justice and the agencies under the department's jurisdiction, including the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security. 

Forty-seven U.S. citizens were killed by Hamas during the brutal Oct. 7, 2023 attack, and the judiciary should enforce indictments of those individuals accused of supporting the murder of Americans abroad who are being hosted by U.S. allies such as Turkey and Qatar. 

Furthermore, the committee should further expand the Anti-Terrorism Act, enabling families of victims to sue in a civil court commercial entities connected to these crimes. This would send a clear message: beware those that believe they can support terrorist activities unnoticed. It should also hold the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) accountable, demanding it puts timely and significant sanctions on entities supporting terrorist organizations.

CEASE-FIRE BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HAMAS GETTING CLOSER AMID CONCERNS TERROR GROUP REARMING IN GAZA

The Senate Appropriations Committee also has a role to play as defined by the Constitution, which requires "appropriations made by law" as a condition for expenditures made by the U.S. Treasury. In other words: Follow the money. Countries seeking U.S. financial aid should be unreservedly respectful of U.S. demands, especially on the topic of unlawful detention of Americans. For example, in September, the committee approved $1.3 billion in aid to Egypt. Such aid should have been conditioned on Cairo destroying all tunnels leading from Egypt into Gaza, which were used to transfer the very weapons utilized to kill U.S. citizens and to take them hostage.

The new Congress has a moral and legal obligation to ensure the return of the seven American hostages. What power does a global superpower have if it cannot even secure the release of its citizens from a floundering terror group? It must show its commitment in the "House of the People" via all of its political, financial, and judicial levers in order to help bring the American and all the other hostages home. 

By taking a more vigorous approach vis a vis countries and commercial entities that have a proven capability of influencing Hamas, the U.S. will demonstrate its commitment to its citizens and its unwillingness to tolerate terrorism and human rights abuses. 

As we and countless others watch and wait, hopeful for the return of our loved ones, it is imperative that the U.S. with the active support of Congress act decisively, and without delay. I have a dream that next week, when I attend President Trump’s inauguration, he will say he secured the release of all of the U.S. hostages, just like President Reagan did at his inauguration in 1981.

Минск

Путин и Лукашенко осудили агрессивную политику Евросоюза против Минска и Москвы

BBC Sport plans major shake-up as it axes 27 jobs and ends iconic show in cost-saving proposal

The exact age your brain function begins to decline – and the ‘critical window’ you have to fix it

Cách sút như Roberto Carlos với đường bóng đầy uy lực

Polls open in Greenland for parliamentary elections as Trump seeks control of the strategic island

Ria.city






Read also

Is President Macron 'obsessed' with buying James Bond’s car?

Shark Tank India Season 4: Protein snack brand founder secures a deal from Viraj Bahl and Anupam Mittal; latter says 'Bhai faad daalenge, stalwart aur gunda saath mein aarahe hain'

It smells like rotten eggs, increases risk of slips & looks terrible – banish algae for good with a 55p buy

News, articles, comments, with a minute-by-minute update, now on Today24.pro

News Every Day

Cách sút như Roberto Carlos với đường bóng đầy uy lực

Today24.pro — latest news 24/7. You can add your news instantly now — here


News Every Day

I love being bronzed all year but hate fake tan – my £5 hack gives me a glow in seconds & I DON’T smell like biscuits



Sports today


Новости тенниса
Людмила Самсонова

Самсонова впервые в карьере вышла в ¼ финала Индиан-Уэллса



Спорт в России и мире
Москва

Руслан Хисамутдинов и Карина Юсупова: «На кремлевском паркете хочется просто порхать»



All sports news today





Sports in Russia today

Москва

Руслан Хисамутдинов и Карина Юсупова: «На кремлевском паркете хочется просто порхать»


Новости России

Game News

The PC Gaming Show returns this June


Russian.city


Борис Титов

Ключевые национальные проекты фактически не выполняются


Губернаторы России
Луна

«Белая Луна»: DONI, DJ DAVEED и VIVATS представили второй фит


III Международный фестиваль детского кино «Хрустальный ИсточникЪ» пройдет в Ессентуках летом 2025 года

Чит-коды в Standoff 2 – что это такое и вредны ли они

С 2025 года Отделение СФР по Москве и Московской области увеличило размеры декретных пособий и выплат по больничным листам

III Международный фестиваль детского кино «Хрустальный ИсточникЪ» пройдет в Ессентуках летом 2025 года


Ксения Собчак о поездке в Куршевель и тусовке с Тимати: «Я и денег заработала, и отдохнула»

Опубликовать стихи поэта. Опубликовать стихи друга.

Кавер песни российского рокера Егора Летова отправили на Луну

Вадим Самойлов и «7Б» выступят на фестивале «Рок над Амуром»


Самсонова одержала победу над Касаткиной на турнире WTA 1000

Самсонова обыграла Касаткину в третьем круге турнира WTA в Индиан-Уэллсе

Елене Рыбакиной "отдали" победу в реванше с 17-летним вундеркиндом

Российский теннисист Даниил Медведев установил новый рекорд



Открытие аутлета OFFPRICE в ТРЦ «Нора»

В объятьях музыки! Relax FM рекомендует концерт Alizbar & Ann’Sannat

Отделение СФР по Москве и Московской области с 2025 года автоматически установило надбавки к пенсиям более 743 тысяч жителей региона с инвалидностью I группы и гражданам старше 80 лет

Отделение СФР по Москве и Московской области проактивно открыло свыше 178 тысяч СНИЛС новорожденным


Менеджер Песни. Менеджер Релиза Песни. Менеджер вышедшей песни.

Клишас: Матвиенко не предлагала запрещать студентам поступать в вузы столиц

Крепежи, закладные детали, болты, соединения, шлейфы, листы, уголки и т.п.

Наши люди - с наградами. Водители из Узбекистана в Ростове. Урезали финансы. Двое претендентов на пост главы. Вам пишет Лариса Долина


Собянин: силы ПВО уничтожили четыре беспилотника, летевших на Москву

Падение на Мосбирже и заявление ЦБ относительно ключевой ставки. Обзор финансового рынка от 13 марта

Собянин: силами ПВО Минобороны отражена атака четырех БПЛА, летевших на Москву

Районный многофункциональный центр откроется в Донском районе Москвы



Путин в России и мире






Персональные новости Russian.city
Тимати

Ксения Собчак станцевала с Тимати на вечеринке в Куршевеле



News Every Day

Cách sút như Roberto Carlos với đường bóng đầy uy lực




Friends of Today24

Музыкальные новости

Персональные новости