A bipartisan delegation of US senators, led by Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), visited the Museum of Tolerance Jerusalem on Monday, marking 500 days since the October 7 attack and the continued captivity of hostages in Gaza. The visit included meetings with families of victims and hostages, as lawmakers reaffirmed US commitment to securing the hostages’ release and strengthening ties with Israel.
The senators toured the 6:29 – From Darkness to Light exhibition, which presents testimonies from survivors of the October 7 attack. They met with Sharon Sharabi, whose brother Yossi died in Hamas captivity while his other brother, Eli, was released earlier this month. They also spoke with Sigal Mansuri, who lost her daughters, Norel and Roya, along with Norel’s fiancé, Amit Cohen, at the Nova Music Festival massacre. Addressing the families, Graham assured them that the US government remains fully dedicated to bringing every hostage home.
The number one priority of the US government—Democrat and Republican—is to get [the hostages] out, to help your government negotiate for their release, every last one of them
“The number one priority of the US government—Democrat and Republican—is to get [the hostages] out, to help your government negotiate for their release, every last one of them,” Graham said. He also praised Israel’s leadership, stating, “I appreciate President Trump being strong on this, as well as the Prime Minister of Israel. This is your policy, this is our policy—Democrats and Republicans alike—to push for the release of every last hostage.”
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This is a critical time, a tiny window of opportunity to save all the hostages, to bring them home. We rely on you, the US government, which is making every effort to bring them back
Sharabi underscored the urgency of the situation, telling the delegation, “This is a critical time, a tiny window of opportunity to save all the hostages, to bring them home. We rely on you, the US government, which is making every effort to bring them back.”
The visiting senators included Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), John Cornyn (R-TX), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Joni Ernst (R-IA), and Andy Kim (D-NJ). They were joined by Morgan Ortagus, deputy special presidential envoy for Middle East peace.
Graham, a longtime supporter of Israel, emphasized the significance of the visit, stating, “Here I am, in Israel, 500 days after the second largest loss of Jewish life since the Holocaust. Evil must be confronted, deterred, and destroyed—it will always return if we are not vigilant.” The bipartisan nature of the visit, he added, reflected unwavering American support for Israel’s security and hostage recovery efforts.
Evil must be confronted, deterred, and destroyed—it will always return if we are not vigilant
The 6:29 – From Darkness to Light exhibit, which features holographic testimonies from survivors and hostage families, left a profound impact on the delegation. The senators listened to harrowing accounts from 35 women who survived the October 7 attacks. In the Room of Hope, the final section of the exhibit, visitors write messages of solidarity and prayers for the hostages. The lawmakers participated in this tradition, leaving personal notes of support.
The visit coincided with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s trip to the region. Speaking at a press conference in Jerusalem, Rubio reiterated US support for hostage negotiations, stating, “The hostages need to come home, they need to be released. That must happen. It’s not optional.”