Grammy-nominated artist John Ondrasik, best known as the frontman of Five For Fighting, is calling for renewed global pressure on Hamas to release remaining Israeli hostages in the wake of U.S. military action targeting Iran’s nuclear program.
Ondrasik has been an outspoken advocate for the more than 250 Israeli citizens kidnapped by Hamas during the terror attack on October 7, 2023. He has used his platform to raise awareness through music, travel, and public engagement. The singer recently visited Israel, performing and speaking at rallies to support hostage families and spotlight their plight.
To amplify the cause, Ondrasik released a new version of his iconic post-9/11 hit “Superman,” aimed at highlighting the suffering of the hostages and pressing world leaders for diplomatic action. His effort has met resistance from some who claim the message is politically charged, but Ondrasik insists the campaign is rooted in basic human decency.
In a recent op-ed for the Wall Street Journal, Ondrasik addressed the backlash to his advocacy: “Superman isn’t political. It’s emotional. It’s all of us,” he wrote. “To them, taking a stand—any stand—means choosing sides in someone else’s war. Yet the hostages aren’t political. This is a basic moral issue.”
Following the recent American military strike on Iranian nuclear targets, Ondrasik argued that the time is right to focus international attention on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. On Sunday, the Israel Defense Forces announced the recovery of three hostage bodies through a covert operation. Approximately 50 hostages remain unaccounted for, with around 20 believed to still be alive.
Ondrasik’s ongoing advocacy continues to draw attention to the hostages’ suffering and serves as a call to action for governments and citizens alike to demand their release.
