(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — With reports of anti-Semitism on the rise on college campuses locally and nationally and an Evanston woman back home after being held hostage by Hamas, the Consul General of Israel to the Midwest weighed in on the Israel-Hamas war on Tuesday.
Yinam Cohen said he is thrilled that Natalie Raanan is finally back home after several weeks of being held hostage.
"At the same time, I want to remind that we still have 239 hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, among the more than 30 children, toddlers and babies," he said. "We call for the immediate release of all the hostages."
Cohen described the release of hostages held by Hamas as "the most pressing humanitarian issue right now." Meanwhile, a severe humanitarian crisis has been reported in Gaza, which is home to 2.3 million people. The Associated Press reported that half of the population has fled their homes as supplies of food, medicine, water and fuel run low.
The Israeli consul general said he also has concerns a bit closer to home.
"In the past week, we have seen an explosion in anti-Semitic expressions here in the United States, both on the streets and on university campuses," he said.
He called on college leadership to do a better job of condemning anti-Semitism and hate of any kind.
"I was shocked to see demonstrations and manifestations, both from professors and students, praising the massacre of Hamas," Cohen said. "They've called it an act of resistance, resilience."
On Wednesday, after more than three weeks of siege, hundreds of dual passport holders and dozens of seriously injured Palestinians were allowed to leave Gaza.
Since Hamas' attack on Oct. 7, over 8,700 Palestinians have been killed in the war, mostly women and minors, and more than 22,000 people have been wounded, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. More than 1,400 people have died on the Israeli side, mainly civilians killed during the Oct. 7 attack.
Both figures have been without precedent in decades of Israeli-Palestinian violence. Experts anticipate a surge in casualties as Israeli troops advance.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Listen to our new podcast Looped In: Chicago
Listen to WBBM Newsradio now on Audacy!
Sign up and follow WBBM Newsradio
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
