1. United States
2. Colo.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to take immediate action to secure the release of the American citizens who were aboard the recent humanitarian flotilla bringing aid to Gaza and are now being illegally detained in an Israeli prison. Many of these individuals are U.S. citizens, including several military veterans who have already sacrificed in service to this country. One of those detained is a resident of Colorado, making this matter deeply personal to our state. The people aboard this flotilla were engaged in a humanitarian mission. Their intent was not to incite conflict but to bring aid to civilians facing dire conditions. Detaining them under these circumstances is a violation of their rights and an affront to international law. As Americans, they deserve the full protection of their government. It is unacceptable that U.S. citizens—people who have risked their lives for our country and who were acting on conscience and compassion—are being held in a foreign prison without swift, decisive advocacy from their own nation. Their continued detention sends a troubling signal: that Americans abroad can be taken, held, and silenced without consequence. I ask that you use every tool at your disposal to demand their immediate release and safe return. These individuals must not be forgotten or left to navigate this crisis alone. At the very least, our government should ensure that they have immediate access to consular services, legal representation, and communication with their families. We cannot claim to value human rights, democracy, and the rule of law if we do not defend our own citizens when those very principles are under attack. Please act urgently to bring these Americans home.