Israeli hostage families urge US Congress to pressure Netanyahu on ceasefire deal

Relatives say they hope members of pro-Israel Congress will 'be leaders, not politicians' during Prime Minister's visit

Families of hostages being held in Gaza speak outside the White House on July 22. AP

As the US Congress prepares to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, families of hostages held by Hamas urged American politicians on Tuesday to pressure him on his handling of ceasefire negotiations.

“Any true friend of Israel today must pressure our Prime Minister to finish the deal now,” said Jonathan Dekel-Chen, father of hostage Sagui Dekel-Chen.

“There's a myth out there that there's a better deal somewhere … all of the Israeli security apparatus and intelligence services have clearly stated that all of the conditions are right today."

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told the Aspen Security Forum last week that Israeli and Hamas negotiators were inching closer to a ceasefire deal that would include the release of hostages.

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan later echoed those remarks, adding that “there are some technical details to be worked out about the phase one to phase two sequence” of the ceasefire agreement.

But hostage families used their time with congressional leaders to cast doubt on the belief that Mr Netanyahu was working as quickly as possible to clinch a deal.

“Last night we met with Prime Minister Netanyahu again, and I have to say the urgency did not seem to resonate with him,” Daniel Neutra, brother of hostage Omer Neutra, told members of Congress from both parties.

“He did not answer when we asked him why he's only sending negotiators to keep the process going on Thursday instead of days ago."

Members of the Republican Party have largely insisted on their support for Mr Netanyahu since the October 7 Hamas-led attack that led to the war in Gaza.

This year, Mr Netanyahu caused controversy on Capitol Hill when he met Republicans, and only Republicans, during an online lunch.

A growing number of Democrats have begun criticising his far-right government and its handling of the war that has killed more than 39,000 Palestinians.

Democratic Congressman Bill Keating drew applause from the audience and members of the panel when he said he would attend Mr Netanyahu's address, but that he mainly wants the Prime Minister to listen to his urgent message of sealing the ceasefire deal.

Jon Polin, father of hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, urged the Republican-majority committee to treat the issue as “a triage situation”, with the priority being the release of the hostages over threats from Yemen's Houthis or Hezbollah in Lebanon.

“We have 120 hostages, at least half of whom are likely no longer alive, wailing and bleeding out on the emergency room floor," Mr Polin said.

"Now's not the time to go off to the cancer ward and deal with the sick people who need treatment when there are people dying right now on the floor of your hospital."

Many congressional representatives attended the conference to hear from the hostage families, not adding any questions or statements.

House foreign affairs committee chairman Mike McCaul winced as Mr Neutra described the enduring instinct to text his brother when he wants to talk, only to see “WhatsApp say last seen 10 months ago".

And Democratic Congresswoman Kathy Manning wiped tears from her eyes throughout the testimony of Aviva Siegel, who survived more than 50 days in Hamas captivity and whose husband, Keith, is still being held.

Mr McCaul said he would meet Mr Netanyahu on Wednesday and promised to raise their concerns, asking each family member what he should say to the Israeli leader.

The families said they hoped that members of the pro-Israel Congress would “be leaders, not politicians” during the visit.