Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) National President Morton A. Klein released the following statement:
The ZOA thanks President-elect Donald Trump for his forceful warning on Truth Social to Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and those in charge of Hamas’ and PIJ’s atrocities (presumably including the Islamic Republic of Iran):
“Everybody is talking about the hostages who are being held so violently, inhumanely, and against the will of the entire World, in the Middle East – But it’s all talk, and no action! Please let this TRUTH serve to represent that if the hostages are not released prior to January 20, 2025, the date that I proudly assume Office as President of the United States, there will be ALL HELL TO PAY in the Middle East, and for those in charge who perpetrated these atrocities against Humanity. Those responsible will be hit harder than anybody has been hit in the long and storied History of the United States of America. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW!”
Pres. Trump’s statement was exactly the right response, following the heartbreaking news that Hamas murdered American-Israeli Omer Neutra before taking his body hostage on October 7.
The Biden administration should have made such a statement 14 months ago, and followed up with strong action against the terrorists. Instead, the Biden administration has repeatedly criticized Israel; cut off weapons and other supplies needed by Israel – resulting in more Israeli soldiers dying; worked to tie Israel’s hands, including opposing the IDF’s needed entry into the terrorists’ lair in Rafah to rescue hostages and eliminate Hamas terror leaders; opposed offensive Israeli action against Iran after Iran launched hundreds of missiles at Israel; threatened Israel into a dangerous ceasefire deal with Hezbollah-controlled Lebanon – which Hezbollah has been egregiously violating since the inception of the deal, including by launching mortars into Israel; and pressured Israel to not respond to Hezbollah’s violations.
We urge the Biden administration to spend its final months ending its threats against Israel and instead joining Trump in credibly insisting on the hostages’ release.