Fetterman continues support of Israel, demanding release of hostages during 2nd visit to Jewish state

Benjamin Kail, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Mar 19, 2025

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WASHINGTON — Sen. John Fetterman during his second visit to Israel this week demanded the release of hostages and reiterated his strong support for the Jewish state.

"Hamas does not want peace," Fetterman, D-Pa., posted on X. "I unapologetically, 100% stand with Israel, and demand the release of all remaining hostages."

The senator added that he was sending the post from Israel, which launched strikes on Gaza overnight Tuesday that reportedly killed hundreds after a breakdown in longterm ceasefire negotiations with Hamas.

Hamas, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization that killed more than 1,200 and took more than 240 hostages on Oct. 7, 2023, accused Israel of breaking the ceasefire. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the strikes "only the beginning," and said while negotiations could continue, it would be while "under fire," the New York Times reported.

Fetterman's visit comes as the Senate is out of session this week.

The former Pennsylvania lieutenant governor and Braddock mayor has been one of the most vocal pro-Israel voices on Capitol Hill since the attack by Hamas, which along with Hezbollah is backed by Iran.

"Whatever they decide to do and respond to Iran, I'm going to support that because Israel will have a better idea of the intelligence and the circumstances on the ground," Fetterman told Fox News last October.

Fetterman, who keeps posted outside his office photographs of scores of Israeli hostages, said at the time that he celebrated Israel's ability to "demolish" Hamas and cripple Hezbollah.

Israel says it has killed more than 17,000 Hamas fighters, but the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry says more than 46,000 people have been killed over the 15-plus months of fighting since the Oct. 7, 2023 attack, according to Reuters.

The senator made headlines in February when he said he'd consider supporting President Donald Trump's announced plan for the U.S. would "take over the Gaza Strip," though he called the remarks "provocative." The Palestinians, Fetterman said, had long "refused or have been unwilling to deliver a government that provided security and economic development for themselves."

Last week, Fetterman broke with some Democrats, including Rep. Summer Lee, D-Swissvale, who were pressing for the release of Mahmoud Khalil, the Palestinian Columbia University graduate student who was detained by federal immigration authorities despite being a permanent legal resident and green card holder.

The case, which Khalil's attorneys are fighting in court, has put Trump's aggressive deportation policies and questions over free speech protections under the spotlight.

"Free all the hostages who have been tortured, starved, raped, beaten and STILL in tunnels in Gaza by Hamas since October 7th, 2023," Fetterman said in a post on X last week, responding to Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee calling on the Trump administration to "free Mahmoud Khalil."

Fetterman first traveled to Israel last June.

During the visit, Netanyahu said that his country has "had no better friend" than the senator. Fetterman at the time also met with President Isaac Herzog, opposition leader Yair Lapid, and other political and defense officials and hostages' families, according to Jewish Insider.

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