(The Center Square) – U.S. Representative Abe Hamadeh, R-Arizona, is back from a trip to Jerusalem and Damascus.
It was the first time in decades that an American official shuttled between the two cities.
Hamadeh told The Center Square via email that he hopes “this groundbreaking journey advances the expansion of the Abraham Accords” and leads to a peace dividend for all ethnic and religious minorities in the region.
The Abraham Accords date back to the first Trump administration. The purpose is to “end radicalization and conflict” and “pursue a vision of peace, security, and prosperity” in the Middle East and beyond.
In recent years, Syria has been in a period of economic and political transition from the Bashar al-Assad regime to interim Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa. The Trump administration, which met with al-Sharaa in May, has lifted some economic sanctions in order to assist the Syrian people and help the new government rebuild the country.
Hamadeh said that he supports that decision, although he thinks Congress should be more involved in the process to ensure the current Syrian government is living up to its commitments.
“This visit was an important step in understanding Syria’s economic challenges and the opportunities for responsible engagement,” said Hamadeh, a first generation American and the son of Syrian immigrants. “It is important for Congress to ensure that sanctions policy is addressed in a way that preserves lawful humanitarian and reconstruction channels while protecting U.S. security interests.”
Meanwhile, Hamadeh remains focused on returning the body of Kayla Mueller to her relatives in Prescott, Arizona. Mueller was abducted by terrorists in 2013 while leaving a Doctors Without Borders hospital in Aleppo.
Hamadeh campaigned on returning Mueller’s body from Syria. When he was sworn into office in January 2025, Hamadeh took the oath of office while using Mueller’s family Bible during the ceremony.
“Since before I was elected, I vowed to bring Kayla Mueller’s body home,” said Hamadeh, a former U.S. Army Reserve Captain and Intelligence Officer. “We have already made inroads on that front.”
In 2019, a U.S. Special Forces team was sent by President Trump to Syria to eliminate the leader of ISIS. The name of the mission was “Operation Kayla Mueller.”
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