Elected Officials Celebrate The Return Of The Hostages

FROM U.S. SENATOR KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND: “I am filled with relief and joy seeing 20 hostages rejoin their families after two long years of anguish and I pray for their healing. While we celebrate their freedom, I hold in my heart the 28 families who still await the return of the remains of their loved ones.”

FROM GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL: ““After two years of immense suffering and loss, the Israeli hostages have finally returned home. I join their families in celebrating this long-awaited homecoming and pray they find peace and comfort in the days ahead. Since October 7, I’ve come to know several of the hostages’ families, including New Yorkers whose children were brutally murdered by Hamas. When I visited Israel in the immediate aftermath of the attack, I grieved alongside the families of Omer Neutra and Itay Chen. My heart is with them today, and with the many others who are still awaiting the closure they deserve. May the victims’ memories be a blessing, and may we never forget their loved ones’ pain. I’m grateful to the administration for its role in securing the hostages’ release. With their return and a permanent ceasefire, I’m hopeful that vital aid will soon reach families suffering in Gaza and that today marks the beginning of a new chapter of lasting peace and freedom for Israelis and Palestinians alike.
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FROM CONGRESSWOMAN ELISE STEFANIK: “The world is grateful for the fortitude and strength of President Donald Trump. Today, all living hostages taken by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023 were released after over two years of being held in captivity in the darkest tunnels of humanity. God Bless these hostages and their strong families as they are freed and now face the long and challenging road to healing. God Bless President
Donald Trump for bringing them home. Thank you to Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff for representing the United States in this highly complex hostage return deal.”