"I will never forget the horror of October 7, 2023. 1,200 innocent people, including 46 Americans, were massacred by Hamas terrorists.
The United States Vice President Kamala Harris has marked the one-year anniversary of the deadly October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas on Israel, which resulted in the massacre of 1,200 people, including 46 Americans.
"I will never forget the horror of October 7, 2023. 1,200 innocent people, including 46 Americans, were massacred by Hamas terrorists.
“Women raped on the side of the road. 250 people were kidnapped. It was the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust," she stated.
Harris in a statement on Monday called the attack by Hamas “pure evil,” adding, “What Hamas did that day was brutal and sickening. And it has rekindled a deep fear among the Jewish people not just in Israel, but in the United States and around the world.”
She reflected on the suffering of the Jewish community throughout history, saying, “The long, extraordinary arc of Jewish history is full of pogroms and prejudice, slaughter and separation. And now, in our own generation, there is another moment that the world must never forget.”
The Vice President also expressed her solidarity with the victims of the attack, stating, “I am devastated by the loss and pain of the Israeli people as a result of the heinous October 7 attack.
“Doug and I pray for the families of the victims and hope they find solace in remembering the lives their loved ones lived.”
Harris emphasized the need to eliminate Hamas, saying, “I will do everything in my power to ensure that the threat Hamas poses is eliminated, that it is never again able to govern Gaza, that it fails in its mission to annihilate Israel, and that the people of Gaza are free from the grip of Hamas.”
She pledged to continue fighting for the release of hostages, including seven American citizens still held by Hamas.
“I will never stop fighting for the release of all the hostages, including the seven American citizens, living and deceased, still held,” she said, naming them: “Omer, Edan, Sagui, Keith, Judy, Gad, and Itay,” she said.
While reaffirming her commitment to Israel’s security, Harris also expressed heartbreak over the situation in Gaza, saying, “I am heartbroken over the scale of death and destruction in Gaza over the past year – tens of thousands of lives lost, children fleeing for safety over and over again.”
She reiterated the need for a ceasefire and called for dignity and security for Palestinians, saying, “It is far past time for a hostage and ceasefire deal to end the suffering of innocent people. And I will always fight for the Palestinian people to be able to realize their right to dignity, freedom, security, and self-determination.”
As Jews around the world recite the Kaddish, a prayer for mourning, Harris said, “The words of the Kaddish, however, are not about death.
“The prayer is about still believing in God and still having faith. I know that is difficult amidst so much trauma and pain. But it is with that spirit that I commemorate this solemn day.”
Harris called for unity in the pursuit of peace: “We will not forget, and we will not lose faith. And in honor of all those souls we lost on October 7, we must never lose sight of the dream of peace, dignity, and security for all.”
The statement added, “I will never forget the horror of October 7, 2023. 1,200 innocent people, including 46 Americans, were massacred by Hamas terrorists.
“Women raped on the side of the road. 250 people kidnapped. It was the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust. What Hamas did that day was pure evil - it was brutal and sickening. And it has rekindled a deep fear among the Jewish people not just in Israel, but in the United States and around the world.”
She said, “I am heartbroken over the scale of death and destruction in Gaza over the past year - tens of thousands of lives lost, children fleeing for safety over and over again, mothers and fathers struggling to obtain food, water, and medicine.”