Lawmakers Who Received AIPAC, J Street Money Demand Release of Flotilla Volunteers

“The U.S. has an obligation to protect its citizens abroad and must act immediately,” they wrote in a letter to the State Department.

Twenty-five members of California’s Democratic congressional delegation — including Rep. Nancy Pelosi — are demanding that the U.S. State Department ensure the release of almost two dozen Americans who were onboard the Global Sumud Flotilla, which was carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza, when Israeli soldiers raided the boats last week.

“The U.S. has an obligation to protect its citizens abroad and must act immediately,” the lawmakers wrote to Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

They requested that the State Department arrange “the logistics of a plane to ensure their speedy recovery” of U.S. citizens “still held in Israeli prisons.”

Last week, Israeli forces raided the flotilla on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, the holiest day of the Jewish religion. Israel largely shuts down in observance of the holiday, but its genocide continued, unabated.

Among the 21 Americans abducted by Israeli forces was California resident David Adler, who is Jewish, according to the lawmakers’ letter. Before Israeli soldiers raided the boats, Adler had penned a letter in which he asked fellow Jews, “How can we atone for what has been committed in our name?”

He continued: “So as the sun sets tonight, and the fasting begins, I hope that fellow Jews will join me in redefining their approach to atonement — together with silent prayer, and toward courageous action to put an end to this horrific genocide.

G’mar chatima tova.”

Several of the signatories have received money from the pro-Israel lobby, according to Track AIPAC, including Pelosi, Zoe Lofgren, Kevin Mullin, Raul Ruiz, Sam Liccardo, Mike Thompson, Jim Costa, Derek Tran, and Ro Khanna.

In addition to the American volunteers, Mohammed Ibrahim, a U.S. citizen, is also detained in Israel’s torture camps. In February, at 3 a.m., more than thirty Israeli soldiers broke into his family home in the West Bank, tied his hands behind his back and blindfolded him.

At the time, he was only 15-years old; he turned 16 while in an Israeli prison. Ibrahim, who lived in Florida, had traveled to the West Bank from Florida to visit family. A resident of Florida, he was in the West Bank for a family vacation.

During his detention, he has contracted scabies and lost more than 30 pounds.

In August, more than 100 organizations sent a letter to Rubio “demanding that the U.S. government act now to ensure” the child’s immediate release.

“For 6 months, the Israeli military has unjustly imprisoned Mohammed, a child, without a trial, forcing his parents to live a non-stop nightmare. Israel has not allowed Mohammed’s parents to contact him since he was taken,” the letter said.

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