Amer Foundation

10/07/2026

Today, October 7, the Amer Foundation remembers the victims of Hamas’s horrific 2023 terrorist attack on Israel, those taken hostage, and the families whose lives were forever changed.

Three years later, we also mourn the devastating suffering the ensuing wars have brought to civilians in Gaza and Lebanon. Hamas’s attack and Hezbollah’s decision to join the fighting helped set this devastation in motion. Their pursuit of violence has endangered the very populations they claim to defend. Palestinian and Lebanese civilians deserve a future free from armed groups that place their own agendas above human life.

No family should have to endure terrorism, bombardment, displacement, or the anguish of a loved one held captive. As a foundation born from our own family’s experience of wrongful detention and loss, we stand with victims of terrorism and war. We call for accountability, a sovereign Lebanon free from Hezbollah’s armed control, and lasting peace that gives Israelis, Palestinians, and Lebanese people the safety and dignity they deserve.

09/15/2026

“After everything our family experienced in 2019, being able to return to Lebanon and come home safely meant more to us than we can express. We are deeply grateful to the United States government and the U.S. Embassy for their support throughout our visit.”

During our recent visit to Lebanon, members of the Amer Foundation had the opportunity to meet with Ambassador Issa at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut. We spoke about what our family endured during our father Amer Fakhoury’s unlawful detention, the positive changes taking place in Lebanon, and the work that must continue to secure a peaceful and sovereign future free from Hezbollah’s control.

We also discussed the Foundation’s continued commitment to supporting vulnerable families in southern Lebanon and advocating for Americans unlawfully detained abroad.

Read the full message from the Fakhoury family at the link in our bio.

09/14/2026

“After everything our family experienced in 2019, being able to return to Lebanon and come home safely meant more to us than we can express. We are deeply grateful to the United States government and the U.S. Embassy for their support throughout our visit.”

Read the full message from the Fakhoury family using the link below!

Family meets with U.S. Ambassador Issa and expresses hope for a sovereign Lebanon free from Hezbollah's control

09/12/2026

Dear Friends,

Seven years ago today, on September 12, 2019, Amer Fakhoury was kidnapped and unlawfully detained by Lebanese General Security under the direct orders of Hezbollah.

What happened to Amer became the reason we started the Amer Foundation. His experience showed us what can happen when corrupt and oppressive forces are allowed to control a country’s institutions and use them against innocent people.

Since then, we have watched Hezbollah’s influence continue to drag Lebanon into war, instability, and suffering. The Lebanese people have paid the price for far too long. Today, we are encouraged to see change taking place in Lebanon, and we hope the new presidency will continue working to restore the authority of the Lebanese state and protect the country from Hezbollah’s influence.

In honor of Amer, our Foundation remains dedicated to advocating for victims of unlawful detention and those suffering under oppressive and corrupt regimes. We continue to raise awareness and educate others about democracy, human rights, and the importance of holding those in power accountable.

Our work has also grown beyond advocacy. Over the past few years, we have been able to help many families in Lebanon. This past year alone, the Amer Foundation sent more than $20,000 to support families in southern Lebanon struggling with the effects of war.

We are proud of how far the Foundation has come, but we know there is still so much work to be done. We will continue honoring Amer’s legacy by standing with victims, helping families in need, and working toward a freer and more democratic future for Lebanon and the Middle East.

09/11/2026

Today, we remember the nearly 3,000 lives taken on September 11, 2001, and honor the courage of the first responders, service members, and everyday Americans who stepped forward in the face of unimaginable tragedy.

Twenty-five years later, we remember the lives, the families, the heroes, and the strength that united our nation.

May we never forget. 🇺🇸

08/17/2026

Thank you to the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation for honoring Amer Fakhoury and remembering him on the anniversary of his passing.

Amer’s death is a painful reminder that the consequences of wrongful and illegal detention do not always end when a hostage comes home. The abuse, mistreatment, and inhumane conditions endured in captivity can leave permanent physical and psychological scars, and for some, ultimately cost them their lives.

As we remember Amer today, we also remember all those who have suffered, and continue to suffer, because of wrongful detention. His story remains at the heart of our commitment to advocate for those unjustly held and to ensure that the lasting consequences of captivity are never forgotten.

Thank you, James W. Foley Legacy Foundation, for continuing to honor Amer’s memory and the stories of Americans wrongfully detained abroad.

Today we honor the memory of Amer Fakhoury.

Amer Fakhoury was a local business owner and Lebanese-born U.S. citizen who owned a popular Lebanese restaurant in Dover, N.H. He was kidnapped by the Hezbollah backed Lebanese government on September 12, 2019, while on a family vacation in Beirut, Lebanon. Amer was wrongfully detained for 7 months before his release on March 19, 2020.

Sadly, on August 17, 2020, Amer passed away from late-stage Epstein-Barr virus-related lymphoma, an illness he developed as a result of conditions endured during his imprisonment. His loss was a heartbreaking reminder of the lasting toll that captivity took on his health and his life.

To learn more, visit The Amer Fakhoury Foundation, which was founded under his name.

Amer Foundation

https://jamesfoleyfoundation.org/hostage/amer-fakhoury/

08/11/2026

The Amer Foundation welcomes the release of Robert Gilman, a former U.S. Marine who spent more than four years imprisoned in Russia.

Gilman’s release comes after grave concerns over his health and reported mistreatment while in Russian custody. He is now returning to the United States, where he is expected to receive medical and psychological care.

Gilman was among at least eight Americans who remained in Russian custody following a series of high-profile prisoner exchanges between the United States and Russia in recent years.

While we celebrate Robert’s return and his reunion with his family, his case is also a reminder that Americans remain detained in Russia and around the world.

Every American held abroad deserves the full attention of the United States government. We must continue working until every wrongfully detained American is brought home.

08/08/2026

The Amer Foundation welcomes the bipartisan legislation introduced by Senators Jeanne Shaheen and James Lankford to strengthen the Lebanese Armed Forces, support Lebanon’s sovereignty, and impose consequences on those who finance Hezbollah.

Amer Fakhoury was kidnapped, illegally detained, and tortured in Lebanon because of the political reality created by Hezbollah and its influence over Lebanon’s institutions. His story became a painful reminder of what happens when a terrorist organization is allowed to operate with power beyond the authority of the state.

This legislation represents an important step toward empowering the Lebanese Armed Forces, restoring the authority of the Lebanese state, supporting communities affected by Hezbollah and holding accountable those who obstruct Lebanon’s efforts to disarm the organization.

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and James Lankford (R-OK)...

07/03/2026

Dear Friends,

As we celebrate Independence Day, we pause to appreciate the liberties we enjoy as Americans and the responsibilities that come with protecting them.

The mission of the Amer Foundation was born from firsthand experience with injustice and wrongful detention. The story of Amer Fakhoury reinforced our belief that liberty, human dignity, and the rule of law are values worth defending and advancing.

This Independence Day, we must not forget the Americans and legal residents who remain wrongfully detained abroad and the families who continue to await their safe return. Too often, innocent individuals become bargaining chips simply because of their nationality. Their stories remind us that the principles we celebrate on July Fourth carry responsibilities that extend beyond our borders.

As we mark our nation’s independence, may we renew our commitment to liberty, justice, and the inherent dignity of every person. We wish you and your loved ones a safe and meaningful Independence Day weekend.

Warm regards,

The Amer Foundation

06/25/2026

“Our family wants to see a peaceful, sovereign, and prosperous Lebanon, and we welcome any effort that genuinely reduces violence and helps Lebanon move toward stability.

However, lasting peace cannot come at the expense of accountability. True stability in Lebanon requires ensuring that terrorist organizations like Hezbollah no longer hold the power to intimidate, detain, and silence innocent people.”

— Zoya and Guila Fakhoury, Co-Founders, The Amer Foundation

Experts warn the U.S. must remember Hezbollah has American blood on its hands as Iran nuclear talks include Lebanon ceasefire as a key condition.