NEW YORK—Reacting to the return to Israel and positive identification of the remains of hostages Tsachi Idan, Itzik Elgarat, Ohad Yahalomi and Shlomo Mantzur, World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder issued the following statement:
“The quiet return of Tsachi, Itzik, Ohad and Shlomo (z”l) to Israel is a heartbreaking reminder of the consequences of October 7th. But it is also proof that relentless pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump and key Arab leaders can force Hamas to fold.
“From the start, Hamas had a choice to release the hostages and spare Gaza further devastation. Instead, they waged war, bringing destruction upon their own people. Now is the time to finalize a deal to bring every hostage home and ensure that terror never returns. This can only be achieved through a united international coalition. The world must keep up the pressure.”
About the World Jewish Congress
The World Jewish Congress (WJC) is the international organization representing Jewish communities in 100 countries to governments, parliaments and international organizations.