“The passage of time has not—nor will it ever—lessen the horror, shock, and anger over the extreme cruelty Hamas terrorists unleashed against innocent men, women, and children on October 7th, 2023.
“Nor will it diminish our solemn remembrance of the 1,200 plus innocent people slaughtered cruelly in the most fatal incident of antisemitic violence since the Holocaust,” said Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Co-Chair of the Israel Allies Caucus and the Bipartisan Taskforce for Combating Antisemitism.
“Families and friends still grieve deeply for their loved ones who were tortured and murdered, as well as those taken hostage, including the approximately twenty hostages still held by Hamas today. My wife, Marie, and I grieve with them and pray for them all.
“The brutality of this attack on innocent Israelis—and others, including women and children, even babies—and its lasting horrors are the direct consequences of decades of unchecked, unbridled antisemitism in the region.
“This same unfounded and unprincipled antisemitic hatred is now finding its way throughout the globe, profoundly afflicting Jewish people in the United States and beyond.
“I thank President Trump for his determined work in support of Israel, his unwavering commitment to securing the release of the remaining hostages and returning the remains of those murdered, and his forthright response to the vicious antisemitism driving the global hate campaign against Israel.
“It is absolutely horrifying to think that today—around the world—there are groups meeting to perversely celebrate the murderous events of October 7th and mock the enduring pain of surviving victims and family members. We can never accept or condone such blatant evil.
“The re-establishment of the State of Israel in 1948 has been a lasting blessing to the world, and the United States must always remain steadfast in its defense against genocidal antisemites.”
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