Why No Mention Of ‘The Other’ Americans Held Captive?

Parallels between the freed prisoners who were held in Russia and the hostages still in Gaza seemed obvious to me.

With all the hours mainstream media devoted to the major prisoner swap with Russia, and all the discussion about the brutal mistreatment endured by Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and two other Americans during their imprisonment, and all the Biden administration’s statements about doing everything possible to free Americans in captivity wherever they may be, is it odd that there was no talk about the eight American-Israelis – and dozens of other Israeli men, women and children –  who were savagely taken from their homes and normal lives on October 7 and held by Hamas in Gaza for more than 300 days?

Am I being unfair in wondering why the media coverage never brought up “the other” hostage crisis, where scores of innocents are being abused and tortured by terrorists who despise America and are committed to killing Jews?

I was thrilled and emotionally moved to watch the late-night drama as the freed prisoners were reunited with their loved ones and greeted warmly by Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. The president and vice president and their administration deserve much credit for persevering and completing the complex deal. And I was proud that the Wall Street Journal used the power of the press to keep Gershkovich’s plight in the headlines throughout his ordeal. 

But I fear the Israeli hostage crisis is not only receiving less coverage as the weeks and months go by, but the focus is increasingly on the politics of the on-again off-again negotiations rather than the inhumane treatment of these innocent citizens who are suffering, ill and dying.

It is believed that at least 30 of the remaining 120 hostages are dead. 

“I will not stop working until every American wrongfully detained or held hostage around the world is reunited with their family,” President Biden declared on greeting the three freed Americans, adding that for them and their families, “their agony is over.”

But the agony continues for the eight American-Israelis and the other hostages languishing in Gaza.