Exclusive: Families of U.S. hostages request Netanyahu meeting during D.C. trip
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Leebie Goldberg Polin (C) holds photos of her brother Hersh Goldberg Polin, a U.S. citzen held in Gaza, along with families and supporters of other hostages during a protest in Tel Aviv. Photo: Amir Levy/Getty Images
The families of U.S. hostages held in Gaza asked to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his upcoming trip to Washington, along with the members of Congress who represent their districts, according a letter obtained by Axios.
Why it matters: Netanyahu, who is expected to arrive in Washington on July 22, has met some of the families of the U.S. hostages in other settings but never met them as a group.
- The group represents family members of the five living American hostages, three hostages who were murdered, and two who were released in November.
- The families hope to use a meeting with Netanyahu during his visit to Washington to address Congress on July 24 to push him to move forward with the Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal that is on the table.
- Netanyahu hardened his demands for a ceasefire and hostage deal with Hamas on Thursday, even as the White House expressed optimism that a deal was getting closer.
What they're saying: "Collectively, we have never met the Prime Minister as a group, and we believe the visit presents an unmissable opportunity, as there is no better time to meet than when he is on U.S. soil," the families wrote in a July 2 letter to Israeli Ambassador to Washington Mike Herzog.
- The families wrote that Since October 7, they have met regularly with high-level officials in the Biden administration, members of Congress from both sides of the aisle, the leadership of major Jewish organizations, and other influential figures in the U.S.
- "We believe the time is ripe to discuss the Israeli government's strategy for securing the release of our loved ones and how the Prime Minister intends to implement that strategy," they wrote.
- "Delivering a speech to Congress about Israel's military operation in Gaza without meeting with the families of the American hostages would signal that the fate of the hostages is not the highest priority for Israel's government."
- "We respectfully urge Prime Minister Netanyahu to dedicate all his energy to reuniting our families."
Between the lines: Several family members of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza who have dual U.S.-Israel citizenship told Netanyahu in a meeting last March that they get better treatment from the White House than from the Israeli government.
- President Biden has met and spoken to families of U.S. dual citizens being held hostage by Hamas in Gaza several times since the Oct. 7 attack.
- White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan, Secretary of State Tony Blinken, CIA Director Bill Burns and many other U.S. officials have held numerous meetings with families of hostages.
- Sullivan held a virtual meeting with the families of the American hostages last Wednesday and briefed them on the status of the negotiations.
- Earlier this week, Biden met with Liat Atzili, an American who was held by Hamas in Gaza and released in the previous hostage deal in November.
The latest: On Friday, Biden said in a tweet that both Israel and Hamas agreed to the framework of the Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal.
- "My team is making progress and I'm determined to get this done," he wrote.
