American politicians on both sides of the aisle issued statements to mark the anniversary of the October 7 attacks, with Kamala Harris paying tribute to the victims and saying, “Peace, “Never lose sight of your dreams of dignity and safety.” all”.
Outside the vice president’s residence, Harris, accompanied by her husband, spoke about the killing of about 1,200 people in Israel a year ago, including 46 Americans.
She mentioned a singer from Missouri who died protecting her son from a bullet, an academic and peace activist who studied in Seattle, and a dancer from California who was killed at the Nova Music Festival.
Harris expressed her determination to “ensure that Israel always has what it needs to defend itself,” naming all seven American hostages currently being held in Gaza, including: This includes four people who are believed to still be alive.
“We must uphold our commitment to repair the world, an idea that has been passed down through generations of Jews and across many faiths,” she added. “To that end, we must work to alleviate the immense suffering of innocent Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, who have experienced tremendous pain and loss over the past year.”
Earlier, Joe Biden marked the anniversary with a candle-lighting ceremony at the White House on Monday.
The US president was joined by Jill Biden and Rabbi Aaron Alexander to offer a short prayer. Biden did not speak at the ceremony, but earlier issued a statement honoring “the worst day for Jews since the Holocaust” and condemning the “vicious rise in anti-Semitism in the United States” since the attack.
“The attacks of October 7 brought to the fore the painful memories left by thousands of years of hatred and violence against Jews,” he said, before also noting the suffering of the Palestinian people.
“I believe that October 7th will be remembered in history as a dark day for the Palestinian people because of the conflict that Hamas caused on that day. I experienced the pain of
Harris also gave a nod to Israel’s year-long war in Gaza, in which more than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed.
“I am heartbroken by the scale of death and destruction in Gaza over the past year. Tens of thousands of lives have been lost, children have repeatedly fled for safety, mothers and fathers have lost food, food, and more. We are struggling to get water, medicine,” she said. In a statement. “It is long past time to reach a cease-fire agreement with the hostages to end the suffering of innocent people.”
Republican vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance also spoke on Monday, using the occasion as an opportunity to attack Biden and Harris. Speaking at a pro-Israel rally in Washington, D.C., organized by the Christian group Philos Project, he said the Oct. 7 attack was “the worst terrorist attack since 9/11,” and that it was not just for Israel and the Jewish people. “This is an attack on Americans.” ”.
“It’s shameful that we have a president and vice president of the United States who are doing nothing,” he said. “Vice President Harris, our message is ‘Bring them home.’ Use your authority to bring them home.”
Vance also spoke out about the “pro-Hamas” protests taking place across the country on Monday and that students are “supporting Islamic extremists, destroying property, and threatening Jewish students and professors.” ” he criticized.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump visited Ohel, the burial site of Lubavitcher Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson in New York City, on Monday. The site is considered a pilgrimage destination for many Orthodox Jews, a group that broadly supports the former president, in contrast to other Jewish Americans who tend to vote Democratic.
President Trump is scheduled to speak later Monday at a memorial event at his golf course in Doral, Florida.
He is widely expected to turn this event into an attack on his rival. He has said in recent weeks that he is Israel’s “best president ever” and that Jewish voters who support Harris “should have their heads checked.”
