FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

October 7, 2024

MEDIA CONTACT: 

e: jessica.myers@mail.house.gov

c: 202.913.0126

Washington, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) issued the following statement:

“It has been a difficult year since October 7th, 2023, where we watched in horror as 1,200 innocent people, including 46 Americans, were brutally killed by Hamas terrorists. We must all condemn the heinous acts of brutality they perpetrated on the people of Kfar Aza, the Nova Music Festival, and the oppressive hold that Hamas has over the people of Gaza – the victims of this war. The indifference to killing must end.

“As we continue to mourn all those lost on that terrible day, and as we continue our work to free the hostages from their captors, I am mindful that this tragic chapter is only the most recent in a long and devastating history of antisemitism, hatred, and pain that the Jewish community has confronted over the millennia. But it has also reaffirmed the spirit of perseverance that will forever define the Jewish people.

“In this painful and pivotal moment, it is imperative for the United States to maintain its commitment to the our ally Israel and continue in its efforts to bring about the release of the hostages that have been held in Gaza for the past year and secure a pathway to peace and stability to the war that is engulfing the Middle East.

“Through this past year, too much blood has been shed, and too many lives have been lost. Too much pain has found innocent people, and too many families have been torn apart. The trauma and aftershocks of the October 7th attack continue to be felt beyond our shores as war and tragedy continues to plague the Middle East. Here at home, we are confronting rising hate and antisemitism and Islamophobia in our own communities. Sadly, too many of our visibly religious neighbors feel unsafe walking their own streets. As the Congressional representative of one of our nation’s most diverse populations, like any blended community, we take great pride in supporting one another during trying times. We pray and work for brighter days, because these times of conflict and hardship must come to an end.

“As we mark today’s devastating anniversary, let it remind each of us that Israelis and Palestinians deserve to live in dignity, safety, and security. In memory of all those innocent people that we have lost, and in full consideration of all those we hope to save, it is time to embrace a lasting ceasefire and to, at long last, begin walking the path towards peace.”

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