Family members of hostages in Gaza implore Trump and Harris to retrieve their American relatives.
"We want to hear that they genuinely care. We desire to hear that both candidates recognize and confirm that there are still 7 Americans being held captive, and that the U.S. is totally dedicated to retrieving them," stated Ronen Neutra, a US-Israeli dual citizen from New York, speaking to CNN. His 22-year-old son, Omer, serves in the Israeli military and was seized by Hamas during the October 7 attacks.
CNN engaged with relatives of three U.S. citizens detained in Gaza, all expressing disappointment that efforts to liberate their family members over the past 11 months have been unsuccessful thus far.
"Enough is enough," declared Adi Alexander, whose 20-year-old son Edan served in the Israeli military when he was seized by Hamas on October 7.
"Perhaps the deal proposed by President (Joe) Biden back in December was suitable then, but perhaps we require something different now," he proposed.
All the family members who conversed with CNN expressed their hopes in the Biden administration, along with Trump and Harris, to devise innovative strategies to exert pressure on Hamas and Israel to negotiate a new agreement.
"I would pose a challenge to the candidates and ask them, you know, how to retrieve our kids," said Ruby Chen, another US-Israeli citizen whose 19-year-old son, Itay, was slain during the attacks last year. His corpse remains in the custody of Hamas in Gaza.
"We want to hear fresh ideas from both candidates and for them to commit to adopting a new methodology toward all the parties," Chen told CNN.
The family members suggested to CNN that the strategy should include the U.S. exploring new pressure points on Hamas and its sponsor Iran, as well as on other nations with potential influence, such as Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar, the Gulf state which hosts Hamas officials and has facilitated negotiations.
Incentives, such as trade agreements, sanctions relief, and international prisoner exchanges should also be considered, the hostage families advised CNN, reminiscent of recent agreements reached between Washington and Moscow to free U.S. citizens like Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and WNBA star Brittney Griner.
"They demonstrated significant creativity in the intricate deal they executed for Evan Gershkovich and in orchestrating an international agreement with Germany and other countries to bring American citizens home," Alexander told CNN.
"Our children may not be as famous as a basketball player, but from our perspective, the creativity they displayed must return in our situation, and to do everything possible – everything within their means – whether it's increasing pressure, whether it's finding creative ways to bring our kids home," he added.
There's even backing among the relatives of the U.S. hostages for Washington to ramp up pressure on Israel, whose long-standing prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is accused by critics of obstructing U.S.-led hostage negotiations to appease hardline elements in his tenuous coalition.
The relatives expressed their support for endeavors to curb U.S. diplomatic, financial, and military aid to Israel as a means of pushing Netanyahu toward a resolution.
"Without a doubt, more pressure on Bibi Netanyahu should be applied, but I'm not sure if there's political will at this moment, whether from the Biden administration or the Trump campaign, to put more distance between them and the Israeli prime minister," Ronen Neutra told CNN, utilizing a popular nickname for Netanyahu.
"But we are urging our leaders to display bravery and set aside politics. We are not engaging in a game here. This is a real life-and-death situation," he concluded.
Over 100 hostages remain in Gaza today, as living conditions in the Palestinian enclave deteriorate under Israeli forces' prolonged siege. Freed hostages have reported frequent scarcities of food and water in Gaza, and some have also alleged physical and mental abuse by their captors.
The recovery of six hostages' murdered bodies last month sparked nationwide protests in Israel, with demonstrators demanding Netanyahu's administration strike a deal to free those who remain captive. Many questioned if the widespread outrage could force his hand.
Instead, a defiant Netanyahu has retained his strategy in the strip, emphasizing his dedication to fighting until Hamas is defeated and vowing to maintain Israeli troops on the border between Gaza and Egypt – a new and significant hindrance to negotiating a deal.
The Middle East situation, particularly the ongoing capture of American citizens in Gaza, has become a topic of global concern. Various families of the detainees have expressed their hopes that both presidential candidates will propose innovative strategies to put pressure on Hamas and Israel, similar to the recent agreements made between Washington and Moscow.
The world is watching as the Biden administration, along with Trump and Harris, attempts to exert influence on neighboring countries such as Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar, which have potential influence over Hamas, in order to facilitate a new agreement.
