Press Releases

Washington, D.C. - 2/10/2025… Today, Congressman Mike Lawler, Chairman of the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, released the following statement reacting to news that Hamas has indefinitely paused releases of hostages.

“For over 16 months, Hamas has used these hostages in a perverse attempt to evade responsibility for the terrorist attack on October 7th,” said MENA Subcommittee Chairman Mike Lawler. “As they have in the past, they are once again breaking the terms of the cease fire and using these hostages for their own survival. The failure to immediately release the hostages should result in severe and unrelenting consequences.”

Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York's 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties.