Kamala Harris issued a statement on Monday to commemorate the victims of the October 7, 2023, terror attack on Israel, expressing both sympathy for the victims and reaffirming her commitment to the Palestinian people.
Her remarks come as the Biden-Harris administration continues to navigate the complex and often contentious Middle East conflict.
In her statement, Harris condemned the terror attack, which saw militants from Hamas launch a large-scale assault on Israel, resulting in numerous deaths and the taking of hostages.
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She called for the immediate release of those hostages and described the attack in stark terms.
However, Harris also expressed concern for the ongoing situation in Gaza, where Israeli retaliatory strikes have resulted in significant casualties.
“I am heartbroken over the scale of death and destruction in Gaza,” Harris said, adding that she remains committed to fighting for the rights of the Palestinian people. “I will always fight for Palestinians to be able to realize their right to dignity, freedom, security, and self-determination.”
She stressed the need for a “diplomatic solution” to the conflict, including the ongoing war with Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The dual message of support for Israel, alongside solidarity with the Palestinian cause, reflects the Biden-Harris administration’s broader approach.
While firmly condemning terrorism and supporting Israel’s right to defend itself, the administration has also sought to address humanitarian concerns in Gaza and express support for Palestinian self-determination.
This approach has sparked reactions from both sides of the political spectrum.
The October 7 attack and subsequent Israeli response have resulted in significant casualties and destruction.
As Israel continues its military operations against Hamas and Hezbollah, calls for a ceasefire or diplomatic resolution have intensified, particularly with Hezbollah’s involvement in Lebanon.
Both Harris and Joe Biden have stressed the importance of diplomacy in addressing the conflict despite ongoing violence in the region.
Biden’s own statement on October 7 mirrored much of Harris’s sentiment, using nearly identical language when discussing the situation in Lebanon. “We also continue to believe that a diplomatic solution across the Israel-Lebanon border region is the only path to restore lasting calm and allow residents on both sides to return safely to their homes,” Biden said.
Polling released last week showed that Harris, like Biden, faces challenges in gaining support from Israeli citizens.
A poll of Israelis revealed that they prefer former President Donald Trump over Harris by a wide margin, 54% to 24%. Trump, who was widely seen as having a strong relationship with Israel during his presidency, has garnered continued support among Israelis for his policies, including the Abraham Accords and his administration’s stance on the region.
Ironically, while Harris has maintained support for Palestinian rights, some pro-Palestinian activists have begun to distance themselves from her, believing her opposition to Israel is not strong enough.
This dissatisfaction has led some to shift their support to Trump, not necessarily due to agreement with his policies on Israel, but because they believe he is more capable of restoring peace to the region, as they claim he did during his tenure from 2017 to 2021.
The ongoing conflict in the Middle East remains a significant challenge for the Biden-Harris administration, with both Israel and the Palestinians continuing to engage in hostilities.
As diplomatic efforts proceed, the administration’s approach to balancing support for Israel’s security and the Palestinian cause will continue to shape U.S. policy in the region.
Kamala Harris’ full statement:
I will never forget the horror of October 7, 2023. 1,200 innocent people, including 46 Americans, were massacred by Hamas terrorists. Women raped on the side of the road. 250 people kidnapped. It was the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust. What Hamas did that day was pure evil – it was brutal and sickening. And it has rekindled a deep fear among the Jewish people not just in Israel, but in the United States and around the world.
The long, extraordinary arc of Jewish history is full of pogroms and prejudice, slaughter and separation. And now, in our own generation, there is another moment that the world must never forget.
I am devastated by the loss and pain of the Israeli people as a result of the heinous October 7 attack. Doug and I pray for the families of the victims and hope they find solace in remembering the lives their loved ones lived.
We also pray for the safety of Jewish people all around the world. We all must ensure nothing like the horrors of October 7 ever happen again. I will do everything in my power to ensure that the threat Hamas poses is eliminated, that it is never again able to govern Gaza, that it fails in its mission to annihilate Israel, and that the people of Gaza are free from the grip of Hamas. I will never stop fighting for the release of all the hostages, including the seven American citizens, living and deceased, still held: Omer, Edan, Sagui, Keith, Judy, Gad, and Itay. I will never stop fighting for justice for those who murdered Hersh Goldberg-Polin and other Americans. And I will always ensure Israel has what it needs to defend itself against Iran and Iran-backed terrorists like Hamas. My commitment to the security of Israel is unwavering.
Hamas’s terrorist attack on October 7 launched a war in Gaza. I am heartbroken over the scale of death and destruction in Gaza over the past year—tens of thousands of lives lost, children fleeing for safety over and over again, mothers and fathers struggling to obtain food, water, and medicine. It is far past time for a hostage and ceasefire deal to end the suffering of innocent people. And I will always fight for the Palestinian people to be able to realize their right to dignity, freedom, security, and self-determination. We also continue to believe that a diplomatic solution across the Israel-Lebanon border region is the only path to restore lasting calm and allow residents on both sides to return safely to their homes.
Today, as we mourn the lives lost on October 7, I know many Jews will be reciting and reflecting on the Jewish prayer for mourning – the Kaddish. The words of the Kaddish, however, are not about death. The prayer is about still believing in God and still having faith. I know that is difficult amidst so much trauma and pain. But it is with that spirit that I commemorate this solemn day. We will not forget, and we will not lose faith. And in honor of all those souls we lost on October 7, we must never lose sight of the dream of peace, dignity, and security for all.
Joe Biden’s full statement:
On this day last year, the sun rose on what was supposed to be a joyous Jewish holiday. By sunset, October 7 had become the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust. Today marks one year of mourning for the more than 1,200 innocent people of all ages, including 46 Americans, massacred in southern Israel by the terrorist group Hamas. One year since Hamas committed horrific acts of sexual violence. One year since more than 250 innocents were taken hostage, including 12 Americans. One year for the survivors carrying wounds, seen and unseen, who will never be the same. And one year of a devastating war. On this solemn anniversary, let us bear witness to the unspeakable brutality of the October 7th attacks but also to the beauty of the lives that were stolen that day.
The October 7th attack brought to the surface painful memories left by millennia of hatred and violence against the Jewish people. That is why, soon after the attack, I became the first American President to visit Israel in a time of war. I made clear then to the people of Israel: you are not alone. One year later, Vice President Harris and I remain fully committed to the safety of the Jewish people, the security of Israel, and its right to exist. We support Israel’s right to defend itself against attacks from Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, and Iran. Last week, at my direction, the United States military once again actively assisted in the successful defense of Israel, helping to defeat an Iranian ballistic missile attack.
Today and every day, I think of the hostages and their families. I have met the families of the hostages and grieved with them. They have been through hell. My Administration has negotiated for the safe release of more than 100 hostages, including Americans. We will never give up until we bring all of the remaining hostages home safely.
I also strongly condemn the vicious surge in antisemitism in America and around the world. It is unacceptable. All of us must stand united against antisemitism and against hate in all its forms.
I believe that history will also remember October 7th as a dark day for the Palestinian people because of the conflict that Hamas unleashed that day. Far too many civilians have suffered far too much during this year of conflict — and tens of thousands have been killed, a human toll made far worse by terrorists hiding and operating among innocent people. We will not stop working to achieve a ceasefire deal in Gaza that brings the hostages home, allows for a surge in humanitarian aid to ease the suffering on the ground, assures Israel’s security, and ends this war. Israelis and Palestinians alike deserve to live in security, dignity, and peace. We also continue to believe that a diplomatic solution across the Israel-Lebanon border region is the only path to restore lasting calm and allow residents on both sides to return safely to their homes.
On this day of remembrance, which also falls during the holiest days of the Jewish calendar, we honor the indomitable spirit of the Jewish people and mourn the victims of October 7th. May their memory be a blessing.
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