Relatives of Israeli Captives Detained During Netanyahu’s US Speech
Police in the United States detained six relatives of Israelis held in Gaza who protested during Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress, according to US and Israeli media reports and a group representing the captives.
Five individuals were detained and escorted out of the gallery on Wednesday after they stood up wearing matching T-shirts with the slogan “Seal the deal,” urging the Israeli leader to negotiate for their loved ones' release, reported US media outlet Axios.
Another protester was removed for repeatedly shouting “1,400 deaths!” during Netanyahu’s 52-minute speech, according to the Huffington Post.
Capitol Police spokeswoman Brianna Burch informed Axios that the individuals were taken into custody for violating a statute that prohibits demonstrations inside the US Capitol.
“Disrupting Congress and demonstrating in Congressional Buildings is against the law,” Burch stated.
Before the event, US House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson had warned that charges could be brought against anyone causing disturbances.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, representing the relatives of Israelis taken captive on October 7, named five of the detained protesters as Michael Levy, Alon Gat, Gil Dickmann, Carmit Palty Katzir, and Leat Corinne.
The Capitol Police identified the sixth protester as Zahiro Shahar Mor, the nephew of captive Abraham Munder.
The protesters were later released after several Jewish senators lobbied on their behalf, according to the forum.
Continuing the Fight
In a joint statement, five of the protesters condemned their detention and vowed to keep advocating for the captives.
“No matter what, we will continue to fight for those who cannot: our family members being held captive in Gaza,” they declared.
Mor, who was invited to the address by US Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, called his arrest “ludicrous” and criticized Netanyahu for not prioritizing the captives.
“He’s [Netanyahu] not answering the people he’s responsible for,” Mor told the Huffington Post after his release.
Omar, who boycotted Netanyahu’s speech, praised Mor’s bravery in calling out what she described as Netanyahu’s genocide.
His sentiments reflect “the feelings shared by millions of Americans who want to see a permanent ceasefire and an end to this genocide funded by our tax dollars,” Omar said.
In a separate statement explaining her decision to skip the address, Omar labeled Netanyahu’s invitation “shameful” and “damaging” to the US’s “standing at home and abroad.”
Many relatives and supporters of the captives have been holding regular protests against Netanyahu’s government in Israel, urging him to end the war and bring them home.
On Thursday, Israel’s military announced it had recovered the bodies of five more captives in the war-torn enclave.
In a statement, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said the discovery “provides their families with important closure and eternal rest for the murdered.”
“It is Israel’s duty to return all the murdered for honorable burial and all living hostages for rehabilitation,” the forum stated.
Gaza’s Ministry of Health reported that more than 39,000 people have been killed and 90,257 injured since the current conflict began.
The death toll in Israel from the Hamas-led attacks on October 7 is estimated at 1,139, with dozens of people still held captive in Gaza.