Political leaders from across the aisle are marking one year since the October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attack on Israel left some 1,200 people dead and 250 others taken hostage.
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden participated in a candle-lighting ceremony at the White House Monday to commemorate one year since the attack, which also claimed the lives of 46 U.S. citizens.
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In a statement, President Biden said the hostages and their families "have been through hell" over the past year, but reiterated that the U.S. is "fully committed" to Israel until every hostage abducted by Hamas is released.
"One year later, Vice President Harris and I remain fully committed to the safety of the Jewish people, the security of Israel, and its right to exist," said President Biden. "We support Israel's right to defend itself against attacks from Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, and Iran ... We will never give up until we bring all of the remaining hostages home safely."
Vice President Kamala Harris, meanwhile, addressed reporters later Monday before she and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff hosted a tree-planting ceremony at the Vice President's Residence to honor those killed by Hamas in the past year.
"First and foremost, I believe that we must never forget," said Harris. "I will never forget October 7 and the world must never forget. What is asked of us, we must work to ensure nothing like the horrors of October 7 can ever happen again. And on this solemn day, I will restate my pledge to always ensure that Israel has what it needs to defend itself and that I will always work to ensure the safety and security of the Jewish people here and around the world."
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A campaign official for former President Donald Trump said he would commemorate the day with a visit to Ohel Chabad Lubavitch in New York.
Trump is then expected to give remarks from Florida at what his campaign is calling an October 7th Remembrance Event.
"The atrocities, including the slaughtering and capturing of innocent Israelis and Americans, that took place on October 7th would have never happened if President Trump were still in the White House," Trump Campaign National Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. "For Americans and Israelis alike, it's imperative that President Trump is re-elected so he can end the bloodshed caused by an emboldened Iranian terrorist regime, which is stronger and richer today from the Harris-Biden Administration's incompetence and weak policies."
