Families of Israeli hostages fear political upheaval in the US will pull focus from their missing loved ones — and are desperate for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to announce a deal to bring them home when he addresses Congress on Wednesday.
Udi Goren, 42, whose cousin Tal Haimi’s body has been held by Hamas terrorists in Gaza since they murdered him Oct. 7, said he’s confident the hostage families will continue to receive immense bipartisan support if Trump wins the election.
“There is no question where Trump stands on this issue, specifically with the statement he just made,” Goren said.
Former President Donald Trump issued a strident warning to Hamas during his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention Thursday, promising the terror group would pay “a very big price” if the captives were not freed.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday said that cease-fire talks led by the US, Qatar and Egypt are “inside the 10-yard line and driving toward the goal line” of an agreement that would including returning the hostages.
“There remains some issues that need to be resolved, that need to be negotiated,” Blinken said at the Aspen Security Forum in Colorado. “We’re in the midst of doing exactly that.”
Goren lauded President Biden for the work he’s done to secure the hostages’ release, but confessed he worries the president’s uncertain political future could distract the US from the hostage issue.
“The Biden administration has been very adamant that the release of the hostages is of the utmost importance, but I am concerned that if the American political situation goes into this upheaval, it could take away attention from this matter,” Goren said.
“We just want [Tal] back so he can be buried and we can move on with our lives. We’re still in Oct. 7,” the grieving cousin admitted.
Aviva Siegel, 63, a former hostage whose American husband Keith, 65, is still held captive in Gaza, said she witnessed him being tortured by Hamas.
“They were so horrible to him… he was beaten, he was starved, he was tortured,” Siegel said. “We had to sleep on yoga mats… they would shine a [flashlight] in your eyes in the middle of the night just to play games.”
Niva Wenkert, 50, whose 22-year-old son Omer was kidnapped Oct. 7, said Netanyahu needs to announce a deal at his speech before Congress.
Omer suffers from colitis, and his life is at risk, the distraught mom said.
“It’s like he has a grenade in his stomach, it’s very severe and puts his life in danger. I expect Bibi Netanyahu to sign a deal and bring them back,” she told The Post.
“I’m not a politician,” she added when discussing Trump’s threat to Hamas. “But every human being knows [the hostages] have to be released now.”
With Post Wires
