Ocasio-Cortez Statement on the First Anniversary of October 7th

Washington, D.C. -On the first anniversary of the October 7th terrorist attacks in Israel, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezreleased the following statement:

"The violence perpetrated by Hamas on October 7th, murdering more than 1,200 people and kidnapping hundreds of innocent men, women, and children, was a crime against humanity and an atrocity that will shock generations to come. It was the single deadliest day for Jewish people since the Holocaust. I have seen footage from that day. I will never forget it.

"In the weeks after the attack, I met with hostage families whose loved ones were being held in Gaza. Their message to me and to the world was clear: we can save the hostages, secure a ceasefire, and stop the needless suffering of Israeli hostages and Palestinians alike.

"Instead, Prime Minister Netanyahu pursued a path of mass revenge, killing over 40,000 Palestinians, blocking humanitarian aid, pushing Gaza to the brink of famine while only further endangering the lives of hostages, andconsistently undermining ceasefire negotiations.

"One year after the attack, the region is barreling toward even wider conflict. The Biden Administration has failed in its responsibility and own stated goals to prevent a wider regional conflict. The administration's refusal to enforce U.S. Leahy laws and humanitarian standards has contributed to the devastation in Gaza, added to the profound human toll on and since October 7th, and allowedthe conflict to escalate.

"None of this was inevitable. And it can still be stopped. Hamas, Israel, and Hezbollah should agree to a lasting ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon. The Biden Administration must uphold U.S. humanitarian lawand withhold offensive military support when it is violated.The world must come together to build a lasting peace. All of us must protect our Jewish communities at home and abroad from rising antisemitism. All of us must demand respect for the lives of Palestinians and human rights everywhere. The only way to end these horrors is through a diplomatic solution."

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