[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 18 (Wednesday, January 31, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H319-H320]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          RELEASE ALEX DANZIG

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Van Drew). The Chair recognizes the 
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Nickel) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. NICKEL. Mr. Speaker, on October 7, Alex Danzig was brutally 
kidnapped by Hamas terrorists from his kibbutz in Nir Oz.
  I rise today to share Alex's story.
  Alex is a 75-year-old father, historian, and beloved grandfather. 
Alex was born in Poland and spent his life dedicated to Holocaust 
education.
  For the past 30 years, he has worked at Yad Vashem--The World 
Holocaust Remembrance Center. Over the past 30 years, Alex has traveled 
between Israel and Poland, working to facilitate dialogue between the 
people of both countries. He has been called ``a great communicator who 
knows how to speak to young people and can break down barriers.''
  It has been more than 100 days since his kidnapping. Alex spent 
International Holocaust Remembrance Day in unthinkable and inhumane 
conditions.
  According to reports about the first wave of hostages, even while in 
captivity, Alex was still giving history lectures. For those who know 
him, it should come as no surprise.
  His lifelong dedication to Holocaust education is inspiring, and it 
is heartbreaking that such a prolific human rights defender is now 
being held hostage by Hamas terrorists. He has dedicated his life to 
understanding how and why the Holocaust happened, only to have his life 
irrevocably changed by the same strain of hatred and violence that is 
anti-Semitism.
  It is so incredibly important to make sure that the hostages are not 
forgotten and that their stories continue to be told until they are 
safely returned home.

[[Page H320]]

  That is why I stand here today to demand that Hamas release Alex 
immediately, along with all the remaining hostages.
  Let's be clear. Kidnapping innocent civilians like Alex is not a form 
of resistance. It is a cowardly, shameful act of terrorism. Likewise, 
October 7 was not an act of resistance but a brutal, barbaric, and 
calculated attack against the Jewish people and the State of Israel.
  Hamas is not a resistance movement; it is a terrorist group whose 
mission is the destruction of Israel and the death of every single 
Jewish person.
  If Hamas and its leaders truly cared about its people as they claim, 
they wouldn't continually disregard humanitarian law and the rules of 
war, including intentionally targeting civilians, taking hostages, 
using human shields, and embedding their fighters in civilian 
communities with utter disregard for their safety and welfare.

  The United States of America remains resolute in its position. 
Terrorism can never be justified. Violence against civilians, 
particularly children and the elderly, is never acceptable.
  We must dismantle Hamas and free the Israeli citizens wrongfully held 
hostage. Israel has proven its willingness to pause the fighting for 
hostages to be returned to their loved ones.
  Hamas broke the first hostage deal, just as it broke the cease-fire 
that was in place before October 7. Unfortunately, a cease-fire today 
would leave Hamas with control of the Gaza Strip and allow the 
terrorist organization to re-arm and continue its attack against 
innocent civilians, including innocent children and the elderly.
  I call on Qatar and other nations with ties to Hamas to increase the 
pressure on the terrorist group to free all Israeli hostages 
immediately. I stand with Alex and his family, friends, and loved ones, 
and I pray for his safe return.
  It is time to bring Alex home. It is time to bring all of the 
hostages home.

                          ____________________