Biden administration accused of snubbing hostage families from White House Hanukkah celebration

CNN’s MJ Lee reported, “Several family members of the American citizen hostages missing in Gaza had asked the White House to attend its Hanukkah reception tonight, but did not receive invitations, one of them tells me.”

The White House has not responded to media questions regarding the allegation.

At least seven US citizens and one permanent resident are believed to be captives of Hamas in the Gaza Strip along with over 100 others after being kidnapped from southern Israel during the Oct. 7 massacre during which terrorists raped, tortured, and murdered 1,200 people including 33 Americans.

During Monday’s Hanukkah celebration at the White House, Biden said “We’re committed to providing military assistance to Israel until they get rid of Hamas” and “I’m a Zionist” to an ovation from the crowd.

Biden then cautioned, “But, but, we have to be careful — they have to be careful. The whole world’s public opinion can shift overnight. We can’t let that happen.”

He continued, “We’re working relentlessly for the safe return of the hostages. I personally spent countless hours — I mean probably up to 20 hours — with the Qataris, the Egyptians, the Israelis to secure the freedom of hostages, to get the trucks in and get humanitarian aid flowing, to convince them to open the gate.”

Biden noted, “I also recognize your hurt from the silence and the fear for your safety because the surge of antisemitism in the United States of America and around the world is sickening.”

Biden added, “You know we see it across our communities in schools and colleges and social media. They surface painful scars from millennia of hate to genocide for the Jewish people.”