Velázquez Statement on 1 Year Anniversary of October 7th Attacks

Washington, DC- Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) released the following statement on the one-year anniversary of the October 7^th attacks:

"Hamas' inhumane attack on October 7th took the lives of 1,200 innocent people, including 43 Americans, and resulted in hundreds of Israelis and multiple Americans being taken hostage, and cast widespread fear for Israelis and Jewish people around the world. Hamas is a brutal terrorist organization, and Oct 7^th marked the deadliest attack on the Jewish people since the Holocaust. We pause today to remember the lives lost, the families forever changed, the 101 hostages still in captivity, and the communities still healing from the devastation of that dark day. As a Member of Congress, I continue to do everything I can to bring those still held hostage home to safety.

"While Israel has the right to defend its borders and protect its citizens, the resulting war in Gaza has been horrific. At least 41,000 Palestinians, with the majority being women and children, have lost their lives, tens of thousands more have been injured, millions have been displaced, and Gaza has been made unlivable for the Palestinian people. The situation in Gaza is a humanitarian disaster, and leaders in our government cannot simply sit back and watch it happen. That is why I have pushed for a permanent ceasefire and increased aid to Gaza since the early days of the war.

"One year after October 7^th, regional tensions have rarely been higher. Israelis and Palestinians both have the right to live in peace, security, and prosperity. I urge all parties to work towards de-escalation. The outbreak of a regional war has the potential to destabilize the region and moves us further away from the goal of a two-state solution."

###