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Confronting Religious Persecution at the IRF Summit

Feb. 10Stories That Demand Action:

Last week I spoke on a panel at the International Religious Freedom (IRF) Summit in Washington, D.C.—a global gathering that brings together advocates, policymakers, and legal experts from around the world who are on the front lines of defending religious freedom. The Summit provides a rare forum to share firsthand experiences, expose ongoing...More

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Save Christians From Murder in Congo

Save Christians From Murder in...

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has once again become the site of unspeakable violence , with Christian communities being targeted by terrorists and militant forces. On February 15, over 70 Christians – primarily women, children, and the elderly – were added to the list of victims when they were abducted...More

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Free the Israeli Hostages from Hamas

Early this morning, late afternoon Israel time, I received word that negotiations between the Israeli government and Hamas to free at least some of the hostages had intensified. The Israeli War Cabinet and the separate Israeli Coalition Government Cabinet are both meeting to determine what is most important – ending Hamas’ reign of terror for good now, or getting as many hostages back to safety as quickly as possible. Personally I view them as one and the same.

Clearly, Israel wants to get rid of Hamas and the deadly threat it represents not only to the Israeli people but really the entire world, period.

But right now what they’re saying is that 53 to as many as 100 hostages could be released, including women, children, and the elderly, as well as some other hostages that are sick, in exchange for some Palestinian prisoners being held in Israel who will be returned to Hamas. And Israel would agree to a 5 day ceasefire to enable the hostages to be released.

Of course even if Hamas were to return 100 hostages to Israel, that would leave nearly 150 victims still being held captive in Gaza. But it’s a starting point, and we have to take that as a positive sign. This is going to be a process – potentially a long, arduous process – and will require patience.

While we were on the air, I received an alert that the European Commission – which had been considering defunding the Palestinian Authority, which in turn supports Hamas – has now decided it will not cut off that funding.

As reported by Reuters:

The European Commission said on Tuesday a review of its development aid to Palestinians had found no evidence of funds going to Hamas and its programme would continue without delay.

"The review found no indications of EU money having directly or indirectly benefitted the terrorist organisation Hamas," said Commission Executive Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the review had been necessary following the Oct.7 Hamas attack on Israel.

This is where the European side of this is very complicated. Obviously this situation is continually unfolding and plans will change and change again as more information is released. International pressure on Hamas has been extremely helpful in getting to this point and it must continue if we’re going to get every hostage home.

As our own ACLJ Senior Counsel CeCe Heil put it:

I think what has helped get to this point is the international pressure. That we have seen the Council of Europe, that we have seen the European Union, that we have seen the United States State Department, we have seen Congress come out, condemn Hamas, and support Israel’s right to self-defense, and that needs to continue . . . the European Union is also already trying to backpedal a little bit, saying oh we’re tracking the funding and we don’t really think that the funding that we’re giving to Gaza, which is Hamas, is really going into the wrong hands. Which we know that’s wrong. We know it’s being used to attack Israel. So we just need to keep the international pressure on.

CeCe is absolutely right, and that is why we are preparing to send a team from our European affiliate office, the European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ), to Paris and Brussels to advocate for the release of all hostages and keep that international pressure up. Even with this potentially good sign that some will be released, there is a long road ahead to rescue all 240 hostages.

Today’s full Sekulow broadcast includes more analysis of the details of the potential hostage exchange and temporary ceasefire between Hamas and Israel. We’re also joined by ACLJ Senior Advisor, and former U.S. Acting Director of National Intelligence, Ric Grenell who offers his own reaction to the deal currently on the table.

Watch the full broadcast below:

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Signatures

CeCe Heil  //

Jan 24, 2025

We are pleased that two of the hostages who were released on the eve of President Trump’s inauguration are ACLJ clients. It’s a tremendous victory for them and their families after more than 15 months in Hamas...

Jordan Sekulow  //

Sep 03, 2024

No one can deny what was caught on camera with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz at the Minnesota State Fair. After a reporter asked about the deaths of the six Israeli hostages in Gaza (including a U.S. citizen),

Grégor Puppinck  //

Jan 30, 2024

On January 25–26, ACLJ’s international affiliate, the European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ), led a new mission in support of the Israeli families of Hamas hostages. With a delegation of survivors of...