FFEU Facilitates NY Muslim Leaders Speaking Out

in support of Jewish and Muslim Hostages in Gaza

New York, June 3, 2024 - FFEU facilitated the participation of several prominent Muslim leaders in New York who spoke at a unique interfaith gathering that brought together religious leaders of various denominations and called for the release of the Jewish and Muslim hostages held by Hamas since October 7th.

The interfaith event organized in coordination with the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, FFEU, UJA and JCRC, hosted families of Jewish and Muslim hostages. In a much-needed moment of unity, the audience had the opportunity to hear the poignant message and testimonial from Salem Alatrash (brother of Muhammad Alatrash), Sha'ban al-Sayed (father of Hisham Al-Sayed), Jonathan Dekel-Chen (father of Sagui Dekel Chen), Orna and Ronen Neutra (parents of Omer Neutra), Leat Corinne Unger (cousin of Omer Shem Tov) and Aviva Siegel (returning hostage and wife of Keith Siegel, still held captive).

The conversation's goal was to inform and remind people about the Jewish and Muslim hostages being held in Gaza, call for their release and bring dialogue and compassion to the region.

Hamas hostage survivor Aviva Siegel, 63, addressed the interfaith event facilitated by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, FFEU, UJA and other organizations. Her husband Keith, 65, is currently being held captive by Hamas after Aviva was freed after 51 days as a hostage.

Full address of NYPD Detective Mohammed Amen calling for dialogue, empathy and compassion.

NYPD Detective Mohammed Amen, Sheikh Musa Drammeh, Entrepreneur Zach Erdem and Muslim American Leadership Alliance Deputy Director Danyal Khan joined Rabbis Marc Schneier, Menachem Creditor, Joe Potasnik, Joel Levenson, and Director of Office of Ecumenical and Interfaith Dialogue of Archdiocese of New York Father Ryan Muldoon, along with other distinguished NY faith leaders in welcoming the families of the hostages.

Families of hostages taken in Israel on Oct. 7 plead for peace at interfaith conference in NYC

"Former hostage Aviva Siegel, whose husband is still being held despite her release from captivity, said she still wanted the people of Gaza to have a better life too."

https://www.foxnews.com/us/families-hostages-taken-israel-oct-7-plead-peace-interfaith-conference-nyc

Father of US Hamas hostage warns Israeli-Gaza conflict has hit 'critical times' as families on BOTH sides of war gather to plead for Biden's ceasefire

"It's time to bring this suffering to an end, it's time to work a deal that will bring our children our fathers our sisters our mothers back." Ronen Neutra, father of Omer Neutra

"No one no one should be subjected to this. (...) This is the moment the Muslim community in New York embrace the Jewish community - and to say that no matter what happened, we will never ever abandon you.

'We will never ever normalize what happened. We will never ever side with criminals. We will do everything we can to make sure that the hostages are released (...)". Sheikh Musa Drammeh

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13491371/Ronen-Neutra-son-Omer-hostage-kidnapped-warning-plead-ceasefire.html