WASHINGTON D.C. — Today, November 22, 2023, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) released the following statement on the reported Israel-Hamas hostage deal negotiated by President Biden:

“From day one, despite premature and hostile calls for a ceasefire without concessions from Hamas, President Biden has continued to demonstrate strength, resolve, and the necessary leadership to negotiate a deal. As a result, fifty women and children held hostage by Hamas terrorists in Gaza will be released, paving the way for a temporary pause and more humanitarian aid to innocent Palestinians being used as human shields.

Families will soon be reunited with their loved ones who, for nearly fifty days, have been living in horrifying fear and uncertainty at the hands of Hamas terrorists.

While the deal represents important progress, the unfortunate reality is that this war is not over. Hamas will still hold more than a hundred and fifty hostages, including Americans. After killing 1,200 Americans, Israelis, and others, Hamas terrorists have made it clear that they will not back down, and are committed to a ‘second, third, and fourth,’ October 7 against Israel.

We cannot forget that on October 7, Hamas terrorists brutally murdered, raped, burned alive, decapitated, and kidnapped more than a thousand innocent babies, children, women, men, and elderly, including dozens of Americans. 

As President Biden has said, the objectives are clear: to stand by Israel to get Americans and all hostages home, crush the terrorists, and provide much-needed humanitarian aid to innocent Palestinian civilians. Hamas must not be able to keep killing innocent Palestinian civilians.  

Israel must eliminate every single terrorist responsible for this war and the atrocities committed on October 7.”

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