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Floor Speech
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Ms. ROSEN. Madam President, on October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists shocked the human conscience when they carried out an attack on Israel that killed innocent men, women, and children and took hundreds of hostages, including Americans.
I still remember waking up that day to horrific reports coming out of Israel--the heart-wrenching stories of people brutalized, of women raped, the mass murder of more than 1,200 people, and the abduction of so many men and women and babies and the elderly.
These hostages, they are more than just names; they are more than just statistics. They are mothers. They are fathers. They are sons. They are daughters. They are friends. They are community.
Since that horrific day more than a year ago, Hamas has kept them captive, enduring inhumane conditions that no one--I repeat no one-- should be subjected to. And in doing so, Hamas has inflicted an unimaginable amount of pain and suffering on the families of the hostages as well; families who have been living a nightmare--a nightmare. They don't know the fate of their loved ones, and they are tormented by every video that Hamas releases.
For others, it meant the heartbreak of knowing their loved one was murdered by Hamas, but their body has remained captive. Families have been unable to properly bury and grieve their loved one.
In the days, weeks, and months since that terrible day, I met with many of the hostage families repeatedly, both in Israel and the United States. Their resilience and their strength--I don't know how they do it. They wake up every day and they stand tall and they are resilient and they are strong and they speak out in the face of such pain and suffering. It is remarkable and unimaginable that they have to do this all at the same time.
Each time I met with these families, I made it clear, I will continue to do everything I can to make sure that they are reunited with their loved ones.
That is why the agreement between Israel and Hamas--which has paused the conflict and commits to bringing the remaining hostages home--is welcome relief. The deal is also helping to save civilian lives in Israel and Gaza by putting a stop to the fighting. It is ramping up the delivery of much needed humanitarian aid into Gaza.
So let's be clear: This agreement was possible because of the steadfast and unwavering support of the United States for Israel. And it was brought about because of the advocacy of the hostage families, together with bipartisan diplomatic leadership.
Now I am going to take a moment and speak directly to all of the families who have been waiting for nearly 500 days--waiting for news, waiting for a phone call, waiting for a moment that they could embrace their loved ones once again.
Your pain, your perseverance, your strength in the face of heartbreak and tragedy and your tireless effort pushing forward for a deal, pushing forward for progress--you got us to this point. You did. You have made the difference.
Though nothing can undo the devastation in the past 15 months, I can only hope that this agreement can begin to provide some form of relief.
I know that we are all relieved to see three hostages finally freed over the weekend and reunited with their families. Romi, Emily, and Doron are finally home--finally home. The images of embraces with their mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers filled our hearts; it fuels our resolve.
We know that our work is not yet over, so I want to be clear: The United States will not rest until every single hostage is returned home. Now more than ever, we must continue being vigilant to make sure this agreement is fully carried out. The road ahead undoubtedly will be difficult, but with our continued, unconditional support of Israel and commitment to regional stability, this deal can bring some much needed peace of mind to the people of Israel, to the hostages, to their families, and to the region as a whole.
We pray for the families who are still waiting the returns of their loved ones, and we hope to bring peace through strength.
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