Office of Congresswoman Elise Stefanik - Statement on the Two-Year Anniversary of the October 7th Hamas Terrorist Attacks on Israel

 

"Two years ago today, Israel and the Jewish people experienced the deadliest day since the Holocaust as Iranian-backed Hamas terrorists unleashed a barbaric massacre on the people of southern Israel, brutally murdering over 1,200 innocent civilians and taking 251 hostages including Americans. There are 48 remaining hostages in captivity to this day, enduring unimaginable conditions. I have met with the families of the victims and the hostages including American families, and I will continue to advocate for their release.

As we reflect on this difficult two-year anniversary, the pain remains fresh and wounds remain open for the people of Israel, for Jewish communities, and those who witnessed the horrors of October 7th around the world. The urgency of this moment has only deepened as Americans, Israelis, and the entire world await Hamas terrorists’ response to President Trump’s plan for peace. It is a fight between civilization and barbarism, freedom and terror, light and darkness.

 

In the wake of the October 7 attacks, we have witnessed an unacceptable rise in antisemitism across American society emboldened by the moral cowardice of those who seek to demonize Israel and the Jewish people during the most difficult time in recent history. The ancient hatred of antisemitism has metastasized from the streets to our schools to our greatest city, from social media to the so-called elite institutions of higher learning.

 

From exposing the moral decay within American universities in the congressional hearing heard around the world, to challenging the United Nations inherent anti-Israel propaganda, I am proud to lead the fight against antisemitism hate in the halls of Congress and around the globe. I was honored to deliver the commencement address at Yeshiva University this year surrounded by the next generation of young Jewish Americans who bravely fought and advocated for the plight of the hostages, the security of the state of Israel, and the return of moral clarity on our college campuses. As a senior member of the House Armed Services and the House Intelligence Committee, I have worked with President Trump, his Administration, and my Republican colleagues to pass critical pieces of legislation authorizing much needed military aid, support, and policies to support our ally Israel in their existential war against the Iranian regime and their proxies.  

 

As a senior member of the Education and Workforce Committee, I have proudly led the fight to confront this crisis of the campuses and rampant antisemitism that began with failures of the K–12 system. I will continue to call for curriculum transparency, oversight of school systems and corrupt teachers unions, and the enforcement of Title VI protections for Jewish students.  

 

The memory of October 7th must remain a call to moral clarity, not false moral equivalence. I support President Trump’s efforts to secure an end to the war in Gaza, bring home the remaining hostages, and begin the process of building a better future for all people."