Ongoing Hostage Crisis

Floor Speech

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Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I want to, first of all, say to my dear friend, the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz), that I just really admire her perseverance in making sure this stays in the forefront.

It is important that we continue to talk about this because this atrocity that took place on October 7 can't be forgotten. One of the most important and critical pieces of what happened on October 7 that can't be forgotten is, obviously, the hostages that have been taken captive.

It has been 4 months since twin brothers Ziv and Gali Berman were brutally taken from their home to be held in Gaza.

Mr. Speaker, it has been nearly 4 months, and as a dad, I cannot imagine the pain and anguish that Ziv and Gali's mother, father, and their loved ones feel each day when they wake up knowing that those twin boys aren't at home.

I say twin boys, but they are both 26 years old. We all remember what it was like when you were 26 years old because you are still really in the infancy of your adulthood. You want to go and hang out with friends. You want to go to concerts, go out and eat, celebrate momentous occasions with your close friends and family.

Sadly, they are not able to do that because their lives were shattered and their family's lives were shattered when they were taken hostage.

I know that this particular subject about what happened, about the horrendous tragedy that happened on October 7 has been divisive for this country, but I will say that regardless of how you feel about what is happening, we should all be able to come together. We should all be able to come together and say enough is enough. All of the hostages need to be returned now. All of the hostages need to be returned today, regardless of how you feel.

That is something that each and every one of us should be able to come together to say and be resolute about that loved ones need to be reunited with their families.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Florida, my dear friend, for putting this together. I am going to keep talking about this. I hope each and every Member of Congress, regardless if you are in the progressive caucus, the New Dems, if you are a Republican, or conservative, whatever it may happen to be that we continue to talk about this.

I am going to because it is important. We cannot stop until these 26- year-old twins are home, and each and every person that was taken hostage on October 7 are returned to their families.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Texas for his compassion and his leadership, and for helping us to keep the plight of these hostages in the public eye. As a mother of 24-year-old twins, I know exactly what he means in the way he described that.

Lois Frankel), who has been a mentor and friend of mine for literally my entire adult life.

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman, Representative Wasserman Schultz, for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I make these remarks with a very heavy heart. As we have heard today, we mark 115 days since the darkest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust.

On October 7, Hamas terrorists attacked Israel and mercilessly took the lives of 1,200 people. They tortured, they maimed, they raped people, and seized over 200 hostages.

Among the hostages, as you look at the photograph behind me, are Daniela Gilboa and Agam Berger, two vibrant young women, 19 and 20 years old, respectively. Agam, a skilled violinist since fourth grade, and Daniela, a singer with a captivating voice. Teenagers full of life with dreams and aspirations, and they have been held captive almost 4 months, most likely in the dreadful underground tunnels in Gaza where air and food is scarce and abuse is abundant.

Recently, I had the privilege of meeting with the parents of Agam and Daniela. Their hearts are heavy, burdened by a living nightmare and the constant terror of the exploitation they dread their daughters are experiencing.

Mr. Speaker, as we speak, over 100 hostages, including Daniela and Agam, remain separated from their loved ones and it is terrifying to even think of the fear, the brutality, and the perverse mistreatment they are experiencing every single day. It has been our solemn responsibility to share their stories and it is even a greater responsibility to bring them home.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for her leadership in highlighting these two young women, especially given her role as the chair of the Democratic Women's Caucus.

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