A number of Americans are among the hostages that have been kidnapped by Hamas terrorists, and President Joe Biden says his administration is working hard to free them.

Some elected officials gathered outside of the United Nations Headquarters Wednesday alongside family members of those hostages, demanding that their release be made a priority.

“Drop the weapons. Stop the fighting. Prioritize the hostages,” said Nave Strauss.

Strauss says his cousin and three children are American citizens and among those being held captive by Hamas.

“It’s just sad. There is no comfort in a situation like this,” Strauss said. “There’s only despair.”

The Associated Press has documented more than 250 individuals who went missing during Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel. Of those, about 140 are believed to be hostages, and more than a dozen are Americans.

“My husband’s family members who we thought were dead already and actually kidnapped, they found them in Gaza,” said Shanygranot Lubaton.

Nearly 20 blocks north in Manhattan Wednesday, several dozen volunteers helped pack medical supplies for Israelis at Temple Emanu-El. Volunteers are working with the Consulate General of Israel to ensure the supplies are delivered to Israel Defense Forces soldiers.

“We’re getting lists of supplies that they need that don’t have to be authorized by the IDF. So medical equipment. They need formula, all things like that,” said Caroline Leventhal, a congregant of the temple.

Many Civilians on the ground in Israel are also in need of supplies.

“We came here today to bring some good food for Keren, as she is carrying either a grand nephew or grand niece of mine and wanted to make sure that she was well fed,” said Rabbi Michael Miller of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York.

Miller says his niece Keren is staying with other evacuees at a hotel after her family fled their southern Israeli city.

Israelis have been dropping off clothing and other provisions to the hotel.

Lubaton says she also learned Hamas murdered several family members during the terror attack, in addition to taking others hostage.

“The father and the son were murdered, but the mother and two other children are still alive,” Lubaton said. “And we’ll do everything that we can to make them come home as soon as possible.”

Loved ones of hostages at the event Wednesday say they have not been in touch with some of their relatives in the nearly two weeks since the conflict began.

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is calling for additional funding to protect synagogues, Jewish community centers, mosques and other religious and nonprofit sites that could be vulnerable to terrorist attacks.