Mother of American journalist Austin Tice, Debra Tice, has once again called upon the Israeli military to pause their strikes in a part of Syria where her son may be held. This plea comes after more than 12 years of her son’s detention in Syria.
In a press conference held outside the Syrian Embassy in Washington, Debra Tice reiterated her request for the Israeli military to halt their bombing in the area where her son may be held. She stated, “I think it would be polite, to say the least, that perhaps they’re not bombing while people are trying to clear the prisons.” This appeal was also made in a letter addressed to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
In the letter dated December 14, Debra Tice shared that her family has received credible information that her son may be held in a prison outside the Syrian capital, Damascus. She urged the Israeli military to pause their strikes in the area to allow rescuers to search for her son. “We are aware that your military has an active campaign in the area, preventing rescuers from approaching and accessing the prison facility,” she wrote in the letter, which was published by The New York Times.
The Israeli military has been conducting airstrikes on weapons depots and air defenses in Syria, with the aim of keeping military equipment away from extremists. However, Debra Tice’s letter highlights the urgency of the situation and the need for a temporary pause in the strikes to allow for the search of her son.
According to the letter, Austin Tice may be held in a prison located under a Syrian military museum in the mountainous Mount Qasioun area. The prison is connected by a tunnel to a neighborhood and a government palace. Debra Tice expressed her concern for the well-being of her son and other prisoners in the facility, stating, “We have no way of knowing if the prisoners there have food and water. We urgently request you pause strikes on this area and deploy Israeli assets to search for Austin Tice and other prisoners. Time is of the essence.”
The Israeli Foreign Ministry has not yet responded to VOA’s email requesting comment. However, Gal Hirsch, the Israeli government’s lead envoy for hostage affairs, has stated that he has received the letter and is coordinating with U.S. officials. “We will do everything possible in assisting the United States of America to bring the hostages and missing persons back home,” Hirsch said.
Austin Tice, a Texas native and former U.S. Marine, has been held in Syria since 2012 when he was detained at a checkpoint in Damascus. Apart from a brief video after his capture, little has been heard or seen of him since. Earlier in December, the Tice family revealed that they had received information, vetted by the U.S. government, confirming that Austin Tice was still alive and detained in the Damascus area.
The recent fall of the Bashar al-Assad government has raised hope for the Tice family, as thousands of prisoners have been released from prisons run by the now-deposed government. Debra Tice expressed her optimism, stating, “I feel like we’re standing in line, and we’re not the only ones that are still standing in line. It’s going to take a while.”
Austin Tice is an award-winning freelance journalist and photographer who has worked for renowned media outlets such as The Washington Post, CBS, and McClatchy. He is the longest-held American journalist abroad.
U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller has also addressed the issue, stating that the United States has communicated with HTS (Hayat Tahrir al-Sham) on the importance of locating Austin Tice. However, there are currently no U.S. government personnel on the ground in Syria actively searching for the journalist. “We have a number of people engaged in trying to find Austin Tice and bring him home, and we have directly communicated to HTS that any help they can provide in locating him would be greatly appreciated,” Miller said.
Syria’s transitional government has also expressed their commitment to finding Austin Tice and other Americans who were disappeared by the former Assad government. They have stated that they will cooperate with the U.S. government in this matter.
Outside the Syrian Embassy in Washington, Debra Tice shared her unwavering hope for her son’s safe return. She stated, “I’ve always had hope. I’ve never had even a millisecond of hopelessness.” She also emphasized the
