Families of Israeli hostages taken by Hamas visit D.C. to plead for help

Some of the families of Israelis who were abducted and taken hostage by militant group Hamas have traveled to Washington, D.C. to plead for help and to demand the release of their family members. 

The family members gathered outside of American Red Cross headquarters on Sunday, holding up photos and calling out the names of their loved ones who are currently held in hostage, according to the Washington Post. 

Volunteers at the gathering also handed out fliers with “KIDNAPPED” written across photos of those who are still in hostage by the militant group. 

“It has been 30 days and we don’t know what their condition is or how they are treated,” Itay Raviv, one of the speakers at the gathering, told those in attendance. We don’t even know if they’re alive or not.”

Raviv also made a reference to the Holocaust, saying: “The world stood in silence. Do not be silent again. We need you to help us to bring our loved ones back.”

It’s been four weeks since Hamas’s surprise attack against Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,400 people in Israel. In response, Israel has launched a series of airstrikes in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of more than 9,700 people, including thousands of women and children.

Hamas, which has been recognized as a terrorist group by the United States and the European Union (EU), has abducted about 240 Israeli residents. Since then, four hostages have been released by the militant group, according to the Post. 

The gathering also came a day after tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian supporters marched across Washington to protest against the ongoing war, calling for a cease-fire and an end to U.S. support for Israel.

The families of the hostages are also set to meet with lawmakers on Monday on their push to secure the release of their loved ones. 

“You are not alone, we are with you,” Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD.) said at the gathering, according to the Post. “It is a crime against humanity to make civilians suffer.”