Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) said the almost 500 Americans in Gaza are hostages.
According to a statement from the Biden administration, the hundreds of American citizens are in addition to the “less than ten” Americans known to have been taken hostage by the terror organization.
During a press briefing, U.S. National Security spokesperson John Kirby told reporters that there are “less than ten” American hostages held by Hamas.
A reporter asked Kirby to provide a specific number, to which Kirby responded, “Less than ten.”
REPORTER: "How many Americans have you confirmed in that time are actually hostages?"
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) October 30, 2023
KIRBY: "Less than 10."
REPORTER: "That's not a number, I want a number from you."
KIRBY: " Less than 10." pic.twitter.com/mQEkXzb8kA
“The White House admitted Hamas is holding nearly 500 Americans hostage in Gaza,” Blackburn tweeted, her office telling reporters that they consider the 500 Americans trapped in Gaza to be hostages under 18 U.S. Code § 1203.
The White House admitted Hamas is holding nearly 500 Americans hostage in Gaza.
— Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) October 31, 2023
18 U.S. Code § 1203 describes hostage-taking.
“Hostage taking is defined as the seizing or detention of an individual coupled with a threat to kill, injure or continue to detain such individual in order to compel a third person or governmental organization to take some action,” according to the code. “The United States has jurisdiction over the taking of hostages outside the United States (a) if the perpetrator or a hostage is a United States national, (b) if the perpetrator is found in the United States regardless of his nationality, or (c) if the United States is the Government coerced by the hostage taker.”
Blackburn also signed a letter alongside other senators condemning Biden’s $9 billion proposal for “humanitarian assistance” in Gaza.
“As you know, sending aid to the Palestinians in Gaza is akin to funneling aid directly to Hamas,” the letter states. “The president’s decision to allocate additional funding, in addition to the $100 million in aid previously announced, will inevitably end up in the hands of a genocidal Palestinian terrorist organization that has evidenced its desire to destroy the Jewish state.”
Biden's request to send $9 billion in aid to Gaza is akin to funneling aid directly to Hamas.
— Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) October 31, 2023
I led my Senate colleagues in a letter to @SenSchumer urging him to reject Biden's grossly irresponsible funding request. pic.twitter.com/LoJMo3Xrq2
