Hersh. Keith. Sagui. Edan. Omer. Theirs should be household names across the United States. But they’re not, and the fault lies with President Biden.
Hamas terrorists kidnapped Hersh Goldberg-Polin from a music festival after half of his dominant arm was blown off in their attack.
Keith Siegel was abducted from his home in Kfar Aza, Sagui Dekel-Chen from his home in Nir Oz.
Edan Alexander and Omer Neutra were both snatched while they were serving in the Israel Defense Forces.
All are American citizens, and until this week, our sitting president had never mentioned any of them by name.
On Monday, after more than 220 days, Biden finally spat out the name Hersh Goldberg-Polin — but seemed confused and at first said the young man was “here with us today” at the Rose Garden ceremony where the commander-in-chief was speaking.
Recently, we learned that Hersh and Keith were both alive, thanks to videos that Hamas released.
Appearing pale and lacking a forearm, Hersh discussed missing the Passover holiday with his family. Crying, Keith begged for the nightmare of his captivity to end.
Sadly, there is no end in sight.
Negotiations among Hamas, Israel, the United States, Qatar and Egypt have stalled after months of stalemate.
One of the many points of leverage the United States holds, asking Qatar to expel Hamas leadership, has never even been requested by the Biden administration, according to the Qataris.
Every time negotiations have hit an impasse since November, when a temporary cease-fire allowed the release of dozens of hostages, the United States has exerted pressure on Israel, not on Hamas.
The terror organization has learned an important lesson: There is no incentive to negotiate for the release of hostages, not even American citizens.
This moment in time feels very much like a throwback to 44 years ago, to the dark days of the Iran hostage crisis.
Which means we need another Ronald Reagan.
In 2024, it means we need Donald Trump.
The American people need the former president to set himself apart from Biden and do what America’s leader should have been doing for seven and a half months: Say the names of the Americans held hostage by Hamas every single day.
A short refresher: On Nov. 4, 1979, Iranian students captured the US Embassy in Tehran and took 52 Americans hostage.
President Jimmy Carter spent a great deal of energy trying to secure their release, but was unsuccessful.
That failure is widely believed to have been a big part of the reason why he lost his re-election bid.
After 444 days, Iran released the hostages on Jan. 20, 1981, moments after Reagan was inaugurated as America’s new president.
They knew Reagan was nobody to be messed with.
Unlike Carter, Biden can’t even be bothered to advocate for the American hostages being held in Gaza.
On May 9, Hersh Goldberg-Polin’s parents fumed on their Instagram account, blasting Biden in an open letter to the president.
“During your interview last night on CNN with Erin Burnett, you spent time threatening to cut off military aid to Israel, but you did NOT even make a single mention of the hostages kidnapped violently by Hamas — not even the American ones,” the couple railed.
“I implore you, as the leader of our great nation, to take immediate action and prioritize the safe return of these American citizens and all the hostages.
“They deserve our unwavering support and attention.”
The Israel-Gaza hostage horror is a new generation’s Iran crisis.
Yet this time, our leadership is even worse: We don’t just have an ineffective commander-in-chief, but one who is apathetic and aloof.
The Iran crisis cost Carter a second term.
The plight of the Americans held by Hamas should cost Biden his.
Trump has it within his grasp to end this abomination.
At every speech, he should say their names.
Share their stories.
Show not only that he cares, but that as president, he will accomplish what Biden has not and perhaps cannot do: Bring them home.