Parents of Slain Israeli Hostage Lead Tributes to Lindsey Graham at IAC Memorial

Speakers at the memorial highlighted the late senator's support for Israel, advocacy for hostage families and longstanding ties with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

July 22nd, 07AM July 22nd, 08AM

The parents of slain Israeli-American hostage Omer Neutra paid tribute to the late U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham on Wednesday, describing him as a consistent supporter of Israel and the families of hostages held in Gaza.

Speaking during a memorial ceremony for the South Carolina Republican, Orna and Ronen Neutra said Graham "was one of the strongest and most consistent voices in the Senate supporting Israel and calling for the hostages to be released" after Hamas' October 7 attack.

"Our family and the hostage families will always be grateful for his time, his honesty and his steadfast support for Israel and the hostage families," they said, recalling multiple meetings with Graham in Washington and Israel.

They said he "never told us what we wanted to hear, only what he believed," and remembered him telling hostage families: "I wish you were all my constituents. I wish you were all from South Carolina" – a remark they interpreted as his desire to do even more on their behalf.

Graham died earlier this month at age 71 following a brief and sudden illness. First elected to the Senate in 2002 after serving in the House of Representatives, he became one of the Republican Party's leading foreign policy voices and a close ally of U.S. President Donald Trump.

Throughout his tenure, Graham established himself as one of Israel's most vocal defenders in Congress and maintained an exceptionally close relationship with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In 2024 alone, the two met seven times and spoke by phone nine times, often around congressional efforts to advance weapons shipments to Israel.

The memorial, hosted by the Israeli-American Council, featured remarks from leaders of major American Jewish organizations, former lawmakers and philanthropists, many of whom spoke about Graham's involvement in U.S.-Israel relations, his positions on Iran and antisemitism, and his engagement with the American Jewish community. Ambassador Alon Carr, who spoke at the ceremony, recalled visits to Israel during which, he said, Graham was greeted enthusiastically by Israelis.

Israeli leaders, including President Isaac Herzog, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, Defense Minister Israel Katz, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, also paid tribute following Graham's death, describing him as a devoted friend of Israel and an advocate for its security.