Senator Coons statement on anniversary of October 7 attacks

WILMINGTON, Del. - U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) issued the following statement on the first anniversary of the October 7 attacks:

"One year ago today, Hamas carried out a devastating surprise attack on Israel that took more than 1,200 innocent lives from many nations and subjected hundreds more to a year of captivity as hostages. Today, Annie and I pause to grieve all those whose lives were lost on October 7, in the year of fighting that has followed, and in the regional conflicts started by Iran and its proxies: Hezbollah, the Houthis, and the Shia militias. Hamas has been willing to draw Israel into a war on its terms, which has tragically resulted in tens of thousands of Palestinian civilian deaths. Israel has a right to exist in peace and to defend itself from attack, and the Palestinian people deserve a path to self-governance and to peace, as well. I still have hope that all sides can reach an agreement bringing an end to the fighting and securing the release of all the hostages still held within Gaza. Hamas struck a year ago today to prevent both Israel and the Palestinians from achieving regional peace and a resolution of their decades-old conflict, and we cannot let them win."