Parents of Americans in Hamas captivity urge Biden to get tough on Iran: This solidifies his legacy
The parents of the Israeli-Americans still being held hostage by Hamas are urging President Biden to stand up to Iran — as they fear time is running out to save their children.New Yorkers Orna and Ronen Neutra told The Post that America’s current strategy to free her son Omer through diplomacy was clearly not working and that President Biden’s legacy will be cemented by what happens to the seven Americans still trapped in Gaza.“This solidifies his legacy,” Orna said.
“We know that the president cares about this issue, we know that he’s been pushing for a deal, but this version of the deal has been on the table since probably December of last year, and it’s not working.”Omer, 23, just celebrated his second birthday in captivity on Monday.Ronen echoed his wife’s frustration of hearing the administration’s promises to help for more than a year with no results to show.The exasperated father suggested the US take a more hands-on approach rather than leaving everything to Israel — and called on Biden to challenge Iran, which sponsors both Hamas and Hezbollah.
“We’re asking the administration how come we’re not using the proof that Iran is involved, that Iran has attacked Israel – how come we are not using military and political means that the United States has to go to Iran and demand its American citizens that are kept in Hamas captivity for over a year?” he asked.Ruby Chen, of Brooklyn, whose son’s body is still being held in Gaza, found it was outrageous that the US did not become more proactive after American Hersh Goldberg-Polin and five other hostages were murdered in August before they could be rescued.Chen believed that those deaths would be the breaking point and force Biden to take direct action in Gaza to save the hostage and bring his son, Itai, 19, home.
“I thought that would be an inflection point, that the US would go bananas and do something – maybe not putting a 20-pound bomb on somebody’s head, but something i...