LIZ HIRSH NAFTALI is a dedicated humanitarian and advocate for hostages, driven by her personal connection as the great-aunt of 3-year-old Abigail Mor Edan, who was abducted by Hamas on October 7, 2023 from Kfar Aza in Israel after her parents were murdered. Following this tragedy, Naftali became a tireless advocate for the release of hostages, continuing her efforts even after Abigail’s release from captivity in Gaza 51 days later.

In September 2024, Naftali published Saving Abigail, a chronicle of her family’s ordeal, with all proceeds supporting her family in Israel and their advocacy for hostage release. 

For over two years, Naftali has traveled globally, engaging with world leaders, including U.S. Presidents Joe Biden and Donald Trump, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Qatari and Israeli prime ministers. She has appeared on major U.S. and international media platforms and spoken at the White House, conferences, and universities worldwide, including in London, Paris, Israel, Qatar, Costa Rica, Australia, Canada, Ireland, Scotland, and multiple U.S. states. Her talks focus on the events of October 7, hostage advocacy for Abigail and all of the hostages' release, ceasefire efforts, humanitarian aid for Gaza, and addressing the rise of antisemitism, focusing on peace.
 
Beyond advocacy, Naftali is a businesswoman and the creator of The Capitol Coffee Connection podcast, where she hosts diverse leaders to discuss shared human experiences, fostering unity beyond politics. Raised in Los Angeles in a Jewish family, Naftali was shaped by the values of tzedakah (charity) and Tikkun clam (repairing the world). Her father, Stanley Hirsh, was a prominent Jewish community leader, and her mother, Anita Hirsh, championed Soviet Jewry and the work of Jewish Family Service.

Naftali, a mother of five, has lived between Israel and the U.S. since 1992, remaining committed to humanitarian causes and global dialogue.