Congressman Jonathan L. Jackson issues the following statement commemorating the anniversary of the October 7th Hamas terrorist attack against Israel

Today, we pause to solemnly remember the horrific Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, a day that stands as the darkest in Israel's modern history. On this day, 1,200 innocent people, including men, women, and children from Israel and over 30 other nations, were brutally killed, and approximately 251 were abducted by Hamas in a coordinated assault across southern Israel. Many of the victims were entire families, festival-goers, and citizens going about their daily lives, and acts of unspeakable violence, including sexual violence, were perpetrated, making this the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust.

My thoughts and prayers remain with the victims, their families, and all those forever scarred by this atrocity. I reiterate my firm call for Hamas to immediately release all remaining hostages, which include men, women and the bodies of those who perished in captivity. As of now, at least 53 of the original hostages remain captive in Gaza, and less than half are believed to be alive.

It is equally vital to recognize that October 7 marked the onset of a devastating war that continues to inflict immense suffering. Since that tragic day, more than 65,000 Palestinians, according to various independent and official estimates, have been killed, including a substantial majority who are civilians, with women and children comprising more than half of the deaths. The toll of loss, displacement, and destruction in Gaza is staggering, and the humanitarian catastrophe worsens with each passing day.

Too many families, Israeli and Palestinian alike, continue to grieve and suffer deep losses. It is time for both Israel and Hamas to implement without delay the American peace plan now on the table: end the war, secure the release of all hostages, deliver urgently needed humanitarian aid to Gaza, and set the Middle East on the path toward a just and lasting peace. This must include a comprehensive resolution leading to a two-state solution, so that Israel and Palestine can live side by side in peace and security.

On this solemn anniversary, may we recommit ourselves to honoring the memory of the lost through action, by insisting on the release of hostages, the protection of civilians, and the achievement of a durable peace that ensures dignity, safety, and hope for all in the region.

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