From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, January 30, 2024
Knesset speaker to head to US with 9-year-old released hostage, relatives of captives
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleLazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana will take off for the United States early next week at the invitation of GOP House Speaker Mike Johnson, in order to firm up Congressional support for Israel’s war on Hamas.
He will be joined by Emily Hand, the 9-year-old girl who was kidnapped by Hamas and released in November, and her father Thomas; the parents of Eitan Mor, a security guard at the Supernova rave who is still in Hamas captivity; and Ali Ziyadne, whose brother Youssef and nephew Hamza are also being held in Gaza.
Likud lawmaker Yuli Edelstein will join Ohana, as will Efrat Raiten of Labor and Yesh Atid’s Idan Roll.
Ohana will meet Johnson next Tuesday, and will speak at the Inter-Parliamentary Union meeting at the UN in New York. He will also meet with other members of Congress, AIPAC leaders and Jewish organizations.
The Times of Israel Community.