‘We want to see actions’: Brother of Hamas hostage
- Or Levy was taken hostage during the Hamas-led attacks on Oct. 7
- Brother: Families of hostages want a deal confirmed, hostages returned home
- Biden has vowed to end Israel-Hamas war, bring hostages before leaving office
(NewsNation) — As negotiators continue to work on a Gaza cease-fire deal, Michael Levy, whose brother Or was taken hostage during Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel, says the families of the hostages are tired of hearing that a deal is close to bring their loved ones home.
“We’re tired of hearing that it’s close and that it might be this time. We want to see actions,” Levy said Tuesday on “Morning in America.” We want to hear that this deal is finalized, and that the hostages are starting to get back home as they should,” he said.
Levy said all his family knows is that his brother was taken alive and uninjured, and they have no reason to think otherwise.
President Joe Biden has vowed to end the Israel-Hamas war and secure the release of hostages before leaving office.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been a divisive figure for some Israelis, particularly on the subject of hostages. However, Levy emphasized that the responsibility of hostages returning home lies with everyone, stating that “none of us is doing enough.”
“I think that I can do more, the media can do more, the Israeli government can do more, President Biden can do more, we all can do more,” he said. “At the end of the day, I support anything that will bring us back Or and the rest of the hostages.”
Biden is expected to meet with Netanyahu this week to discuss reaching a Gaza hostage and cease-fire deal. Although a date hasn’t been finalized due to Biden’s COVID symptoms, a U.S. official said Monday that the president was scheduled to meet with Netanyahu on Thursday.
The meeting is scheduled as disagreement grows over the role the U.S. should play in Israel’s ongoing war with Hamas. Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to meet with Netanyahu separately from Biden later this week, according to an aide to the vice president.