It was 51 days of hell for Aviva Siegel. She was kidnapped in October when Hamas attacked Israel.

What You Need To Know

  • Aviva Siegel, a former Hamas hostage, took part in an event with lawmakers Wednesday

  • Siegel's husband, Keith, is still being held by Hamas

  • Keith Siegel is a North Carolina native

“No human should go through what I went through … there were days that I wanted them to kill me,” Siegel said during an event at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday.

She was one of an estimated 250 people kidnapped.

Siegel, a kindergarten teacher, was released in November, but in many ways, she never left Hamas’ grip.

“I don’t have oxygen to breathe. I’m still there because my soul is still there,” Siegel said.

Her husband, Keith Siegel, a North Carolina native, is one of what Israel says is around 130 hostages still held by Hamas.

On Wednesday some of their family members gathered with a group of lawmakers, including Democratic Reps. Kathy Manning and Don Davis of North Carolina, at the U.S. Capitol.

Six months since Hamas attacked Israel the global conversation has in many ways shifted from the hostages to Israel’s conduct in its war with Hamas. There are calls for a ceasefire and concerns over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s leadership.

Last week a small group of Congress members, including Manning and Democratic Rep. Valerie Foushee traveled to Israel and met with Netanyahu.

“Israel is a thriving democracy. The Israeli people have been protesting the prime minister for months and months and months prior to October 7,” Manning said.

But despite the protests Netanyahu has remained on the job.

Amid concerns about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, a group of Democratic lawmakers in Congress recently sent President Joe Biden a letter saying military aid to Israel should be put on hold.

The letter was sent shortly after Israeli drone strikes killed seven World Central Kitchen aid workers in Gaza and after Biden approved a new round of military assistance to Israel.

Foushee’s office said she didn’t have time for an interview this week, and Manning did not specify whether she would support new conditions on military aid to Israel. Both members did not sign the letter.

“I think it’s critically important for us to assist our allies,” Manning told Spectrum News. “We have a mutually beneficial relationship with the state of Israel.”

The relationship between Biden and Netanyahu has become rocky, but the family members of the hostages aren’t focused on politics, they just want action.