Congressman Brad Sherman’s Statement on the One-Year Anniversary of the Oct. 7th Terrorist Attack Against Israel
Los Angeles, California – Today, Congressman Brad Sherman (CA-32), senior Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Co-Chair of the House Israel Allies Caucus and Member of the House-Knesset Parliamentary Friendship Group, released the following statement to commemorate the one-year anniversary of Hamas’s terrorist attack against Israel on October 7th, 2023:
“I join all today who stand together to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the darkest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust, and the deadliest terror attack the world has seen since September 11th, 2001.
One year ago today, Hamas terrorists stormed into southern Israel and murdered 1,200 innocent people. On that fateful day, forever known as the Black Shabbat, Hamas also took 251 innocent people hostage and raped and tortured countless others. Nearly 100 hostages remain in Hamas captivity today.
On November 7th, 2023 - one month after the Hamas terrorist attack -Congressman Sherman hosts press conference with families of hostages to demand their safe and swift return.
If there’s one thing that the events of October 7th made abundantly clear, it’s that Israel is surrounded by terror groups that would carry out a second Holocaust if they had the capability. And so, Israel has every right and responsibility to eradicate Hamas, Hezbollah, and any other entity dedicated to the destruction of the sovereign state of Israel and its people.
The hostages must come home. Displaced Israelis must come home. Genocidal terrorists that vow to wipe Israel off the map must be eradicated. We must stand ever vigilant in opposition to the global disinformation campaign seeking to villainize Israel for doing what any sane country would do - eliminate those who promise to destroy it, and show they mean it as they did one year ago today.
During a ceremony in Encino on the eve of the one-year anniversary of the October 7th attack, Congressman Sherman presents Yehuda Cohen, father of Israeli hostage Nimrod Cohen, with a flag that flew at the Capitol. (Photo by Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)
This past year has been enormously painful. But the Jewish community has experienced and endured tremendous pain before and has emerged with renewed strength and determination to create a better future.
With the strength that permeates our community, and in the blessed memory of those precious lives stolen on that dark day, let us be unwavering in our pursuit of a safe and secure Israel. And let us pray that one day we see a true and lasting peace.”
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