Tlaib Calls for Release of All Hostages and Palestinian Political Prisoners

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Representative Rashida Tlaib (MI-12) released the following statement on H. Res. 793:

“Every innocent civilian should be released and reunited with their family, no matter their faith or ethnicity. I will continue to call for the release of all hostages, as well as the innocent Palestinians who were arbitrarily detained and being held by the Israeli government indefinitely without charge or trial. 

“On average, 500-700 children are detained by Israeli forces every year. Palestinian children are often abducted from their homes and then subjected under Israeli apartheid to a separate military judicial system. The mistreatment of children is widespread and systematic. According to Israel’s largest human rights organization B’Tselem, prior to October 7, the Israeli government was holding 1,310 Palestinian civilians in “administrative detention”—without charge, trial, or access to an attorney. That number has increased rapidly since the outbreak of this violence.

“I support the release of Israeli civilians and ask my colleagues to demand the same for Palestinian civilians being held by Israeli forces without charge or trial. Their failure to do so demonstrates their refusal to view Palestinians as equal human beings who deserve the same rights, freedom, and human dignity.”

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