In a powerful display of bipartisan cooperation, Robert O'Brien, former White House national security adviser under Trump, and Tom Nides, former US Ambassador to Israel under Biden, published a joint opinion piece in The Wall Street Journal Monday addressing the urgent plight of American hostages in Gaza since the Oct. 7 massacre.
The authors revealed that from the twelve Americans initially taken hostage, four have been freed through negotiations, while Hersh Goldberg-Polin was murdered before Israeli forces could reach him. Seven Americans remain in Hamas captivity, including three confirmed deceased whose remains have not been returned.
"Hamas should interpret this bipartisan support as an unequivocal American unity," O'Brien and Nides emphasized. "Its supporters throughout the region must understand that returning our unlawfully detained citizens is a deeply rooted priority for the US government."
The officials highlighted the rare alignment between current and former presidents on this critical issue. "President Biden and his team have been working tirelessly toward this goal," they stated, while noting that "President-elect Trump has issued a stark warning that the American Seven must be released before his return to office or face 'hell to pay.'"
O'Brien and Nides outlined significant strategic shifts in the region, "The strategic situation – for both the US and our close ally Israel – has markedly improved compared to a year or even a month ago." They detailed how "Hezbollah stands weakened, accepting a ceasefire under international supervision. Syria's regime has fallen, severely limiting Iran's ability to use it as an operational base and supply route for its proxies."
The authors specifically named each American hostage still in captivity: Edan Alexander, Itay Chen, Sagui Dekel-Chen, Gadi Haggai, Judi Weinstein Haggai, Omer Neutra and Keith Siegel. "These families face another holiday season [Hanukkah] with an empty chair at their dinner table," they wrote poignantly.
"Hamas and their supporters must receive this message with absolute clarity: Release the Americans in the first phase of the deal. Every single one," they conclude firmly. "This is the best offer Hamas will ever receive."
