This week, U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., and U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., called for President Joe Biden to “continue putting his full attention on the freeing of American hostages that were taken by Hamas during the terrorist organization’s October 7th attacks on Israel and supporting Israel’s efforts to dismantle the threat of Hamas.”
Scott and Wasserman Schultz signed a letter led by U.S. Sens. Cory Booker, D-NJ, and Joni Ernst, R-Iowa. More than 40 other members of Congress also signed the letter.
“We appreciate that you have sent the U.S. Deputy Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs to Israel to assist in the recovery of the hostages, and we urge you to do everything in your power to secure their safe release,” the members wrote Biden. “Hamas has already killed 30 Americans and likely injured many more…The terrorists responsible for these atrocities hide behind human shields while they threaten to livestream the execution of hostages. Hamas has also reportedly demanded the mass release of prisoners in exchange for freeing its hostages and could use the hostages to push for a ceasefire. With several U.S. citizens still missing in the aftermath of the terror group’s brutal attack, we urge you to continue putting your full attention on the freeing of American hostages. Every day must be treated with a sense of urgency.
“As a result, we urge the United States to continue supporting Israel’s urgent efforts to dismantle the threat of Hamas, provide the necessary resources for Israel’s defense, and continue offering whatever support necessary to immediately and safely rescue kidnapped Americans, with particular attention to those who require urgent medical care,” they added. “We urge you to encourage our allies and partners in the region to place pressure on Hamas to allow the International Committee of the Red Cross to have access to the hostages while the United States and Israel work to secure their release.”
Scott weighed in on the hostage situation this week as he urged the Senate to pass his “Stop Taypayer Funding of Hamas Act.”
“President Biden announced $100 million in U.S. aid for Gaza and the West Bank, and I am here to ensure not a single penny is a donation to the despicable Iran-backed Hamas terrorists responsible for the torture and death of more than 1,400 in Israel, including at least 31 Americans. Today, I’ll be asking the Senate to pass my Stop Taxpayer Funding of Hamas Act to make sure the president certifies that no hostages are being held by terrorists in Gaza and that not a single dollar of U.S. taxpayer money is going to Hamas before any humanitarian aid for Gaza is authorized. Hamas has killed at least 31 Americans is currently holding American hostages. We’ve seen complete terror and devastation unleashed on Israel by Iran-backed Hamas terrorists. Innocent families were murdered in their homes. Babies were beheaded. Children were burned alive. Teenage girls were raped and then burned alive. Enough is enough. We must pass my Stop Taxpayer Funding of Hamas Act today,” said Scott.
