SE North Carolina News

A day after President Donald Trump met with eight hostages released from Gaza, U.S. Senator Ted Budd held a private meeting in his office with North Carolina native Keith Siegel and his wife, Aviva. Following this meeting, Senator Budd organized a bipartisan gathering of Senators who met with recently freed hostages and family members of those still detained.

The bipartisan meeting included Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Jackie Rosen (D-NV). Former hostages Keith and Aviva Siegel, Iair Horn, Doron Steinbrecher, Naama Levy, and Moshe Lavi—brother-in-law of Omri Miran, who remains captive in Gaza—shared their experiences and advocated for the release of the remaining 59 hostages.

Senator Budd expressed his mixed emotions regarding the situation: “We rejoice in Keith’s return, but we also weep for what he and his fellow hostages endured and for what the 59 remaining hostages and their families are still enduring. For 484 days, Keith’s family...worked tirelessly to secure his release.”

He continued by emphasizing ongoing efforts: “Our work is not over. We must continue pressuring Hamas to release the remaining hostages in Gaza, especially the five Americans. I will continue working alongside my colleagues on a bipartisan basis...until all of the hostages are home and Hamas is destroyed.”

Senator Budd has been actively involved in efforts to free American hostages since October 2023. He first addressed the hostage situation on October 25, 2023, stating his intention “to hold all humanitarian aid to Gaza until each and every American hostage is home and is safe.”

In subsequent months, he engaged with Qatari officials urging them to leverage their influence over Hamas leaders residing in Doha. In November 2023, following Aviva Siegel's release, he reiterated calls for Qatar to pressure Hamas leadership further.

Budd's efforts extended through various diplomatic channels including meetings during congressional delegations to Israel, Egypt, Qatar, Bahrain among others. His advocacy involved public statements pressing Qatar to cease hosting Hamas leaders unless they took decisive actions toward releasing all captives.

In legislative terms, Budd introduced measures such as the ‘Reviewing Qatar’s Major Non-NATO Ally Status Act’ aimed at applying diplomatic pressure on Qatar related to its stance on Hamas.

Senator Budd has consistently communicated strong messages against terrorist activities by Hamas while advocating for accountability from nations harboring its leaders. This includes reactions following key developments like Israeli Defense Forces' actions against Hamas figures implicated in attacks on Americans.

The senator remains committed to ensuring justice for victims of terrorism while striving for the safe return of all American hostages still held abroad.