Nadler on One Year Anniversary of October 7th

Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), the most senior Jewish Member of the House of Representatives, issued the following statement on the one-year anniversary of the horrific October 7th attacks in Israel:

"One year ago, the Jewish people experienced the deadliest day in our history since the Holocaust. Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists streamed over the border killing over 1200 innocent Israelis and taking an additional 251 hostage. Today, we remember all those who were murdered on that day, recommit ourselves to the fight for all those who remain in captivity, and stand shoulder-to-shoulder in solidarity with all those impacted by the events of that dreadful day.

"As a Zionist and a deeply committed Jew, the events of October 7th and the ensuing war are never far from my mind. There are still nearly 100 hostages who excruciatingly remain in Gaza. We have heard testimony of the atrocious conditions under which they are being held and the unfathomable levels of brutality to which they have been subjected. I continue to do everything in my power to help bring them home, now.

"On this day I am also grateful for the historic leadership of the Biden-Harris Administration. In the past year the Biden-Harris Administration has taken unprecedented steps to support Israel's necessary increased security needs and to protect all innocent civilians in the region. President Biden visited Israel immediately after the horrific October 7th terrorist attacks, becoming the first sitting President to visit Israel in a time of war. The Biden-Harris Administration continues to send generous amounts of military assistance and deploy American military assets to aid in Israel's defense. The Administration also continues to rally the international community to ensure Israel's protection from Iranian attacks, having done so as recently as this past week.

"I share and affirm the Biden-Harris Administration's total commitment to Israel's right to defend themselves and I also share their belief that it matters how. Israel must have the capacity and support to pursue its military objectives in the region and simultaneously must protect innocent civilians. I am grateful that Israel has accomplished much of its military objective in Gaza, but, like the Biden-Harris Administration, I refuse to ignore that too many innocent Palestinians have been killed in the past year, more humanitarian assistance must reach Palestinian civilians, and that achieving a negotiated ceasefire and, ultimately, a two-state solution is necessary to move the region forward.

"Today's anniversary also reminds us of the increased hatred and bigotry the Jewish community has experienced at home over the past year. In 2023, the ADL recorded a 321% increase on college and university campuses and a 135% increase in antisemitic incidents at K-12 schools over the previous year, with most occurring after October 7th. Congress has a critical role to play in helping to stem the tide of this insidious hatred. Congress must pass the Countering Antisemitism Act, which funds Biden-Harris Administration's first-of-its-kind National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism, and adequately fund the Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights to help protect American students and campuses. I call on all my colleagues to come together to pass these critical priorities and do our part.

"I am particularly disturbed by New Yorkers and Americans who are using this sacred anniversary to take to the streets in support of Hamas and the horrific terrorist acts that took place one year ago. I will always champion First Amendment rights, but there is no place in modern society for support for terrorism. I also wonder if our society would be less tolerant of these positions if it were not Jews but another group whose murders were being celebrated.

"October 7th will always be a day of mourning and sadness. This week Jews around the world will observe Yom Kippur. Known as "the day of atonement," Jews who have lost a family member traditionally pray a special set of Yizkor (remembrance) prayers. This Yom Kippur I will also be remembering the many members of our larger Jewish family who were ruthlessly murdered by terrorists one year ago today. We will remember them, and I pray that we may all heed the lesson Psalm 34 teaches us, to "seek peace and pursue it."

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U.S. Representative Jerrold Nadler represents New York's 12th Congressional District, which includes parts of Manhattan, and serves as the Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee.

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