Rep. Cammack Joins Rep. Miller-Meeks, Colleagues In Introducing Resolution To Demand Release Of American Hostages Held Captive By Hamas
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Kat Cammack (R-FL) joined Mariannette Miller-Meeks, M.D. (R-IA) in introducing a resolution demanding the Biden Administration utilize all coercive and diplomatic resources to secure the release of Americans held hostage, return to a policy of maximum sanctions regime against Iran, and demand the recently released $6 billion in Iranian funds be refrozen.
"We are horrified by the attacks against Israel over the last week. Innocent civilians murdered in their homes, babies beheaded, families burned alive, women raped and tortured—the horrors perpetrated by Hamas will not be tolerated," said Congresswoman Cammack. "This administration recklessly released $6B to Iran last month. We demand those funds be refrozen and expect this administration to do everything in its power to return American hostages home."
"Israel, our greatest ally in the Middle East, has experienced some of the most heinous acts in recent history over the last four days, and at least 150 individuals are still being brutalized and held hostage by Hamas," said Congresswoman Miller-Meeks, M.D. "We must come to the aid of our allies in Israel, free the hostages held captive in Gaza by Hamas, and freeze the $6 billion that the Biden Administration irresponsibly released to Iran on September 11th. We cannot deny the role that Iran plays in funding Palestinian terrorist organizations, and the Biden Administration must return to a policy of maximum sanctions pressure. I urge my colleagues to stand with Israel and demand that the Biden Administration act immediately to secure the release of Americans and Israelis held hostage."
Background:
On the morning of the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah on October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists launched inhumane and barbaric attacks on Israeli civilians by air, land, and sea. Currently, 1,300 individuals have been killed in Israel, including 25 Americans, with at least 3,000 others wounded.
At least 150 Israelis were taken hostage by Hamas and President Biden has confirmed there are multiple American citizens among the hostages captured, with 17 Americans still unaccounted for.
Iran is the world’s foremost state sponsor of terrorism and principal financier of Hamas, a foreign terrorist organization. According to the State Department, Iran provides Palestinian terror groups $100 million annually. Yet, on September 11, 2023, the Biden Administration announced a ransom payment to Iran that called for unfreezing $6 billion in Iranian assets held in South Korea.
The resolution:
(1) urges the Biden Administration to demand the release of all hostages in Gaza;
(2) urges the Biden Administration to maintain all applicable sanctions on the Iranian regime, and return to a policy of maximum sanctions pressure;
(3) urges the Biden Administration to utilize all other coercive and diplomatic resources at its disposal as necessary to secure the release of Americans wrongfully detained in Gaza; and
(4) demands the Biden Administration to refreeze the $6,000,000,000 in Iranian funds released September 11, 2023, for their continued financial support and encouragement of Palestinian terrorist organizations.
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