Freed hostages meet bipartisan group of US lawmakers on Capitol Hill

WASHINGTON — A delegation of released hostages and their family members met with a bipartisan group of over a dozen US lawmakers on Capitol Hill yesterday to thank them for their efforts to secure the release of Israeli captives from Gaza.

“During the discussion, members of Congress expressed their support for the released hostages and their families, as well as their commitment to continue working toward securing the return of the three remaining deceased hostages still held by the Hamas terrorist organization,” according to a readout from the Israeli Embassy in Washington, whose representatives accompanied the hostage families

“To our great hostages who now carry a weight, a story and experience that you never asked for,” Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens said during the meeting. “We will be your friends for life. We will be your advocates for life. We will continue to wear our pins, and we will continue to tell your story.”

“Today we were able to bring both sides of the House, Democrats and Republicans together, into one room,” said Danny Miran, the father of recently released hostage Omri Miran, who was also part of the delegation. “This is an opportunity to thank you, American Jewry, and all those who took the trouble and labored and made efforts to bring these wonderful children home. In less than a month, we will be celebrating Hanukkah – the Festival of Lights – thank you very much for all these lights you have lit for us.”

Those in attendance also included freed hostages Eitan Mor, Matan Angrest, Nimrod Cohen, Avinatan Or, Bar Kuperstein, brothers Ariel and David Cunio and twins Ziv and Gali Berman.

The delegation of released hostages will be meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House later today.