US mourns thousands lives lost to mark one year of Oct 7 attack

The United States has mourned the death of every innocent who died on October 7 attack on Israel and in the year since.

In a statement released to mark the tragic anniversary of the October 7th, 2023 attacks against Israel, where 1,200 men, women, and children including 46 Americans and citizens of more than 30 countries were slaughtered by Hamas.

Hamas also took 254 people hostage that day, including 12 Americans. Four of those Americans – Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Itay Chen, Judy Weinstein, and Gad Haggai – were murdered by Hamas.
Four were released through an agreement the United States negotiated last November, but four remain in captivity in Gaza: Edan Alexander, Keith Siegel, Sagui Dekel-Chen, and Omer Neutra.

There are also an estimated 97 other hostages who remain held in Gaza today. They include men, women, young boys, young girls, two babies, and elderly people from more than 25 nations.

While calling on Hamas to release these hostages immediately, saying every single one of them must be returned to their families, promised that it will continue to work tirelessly to bring them home.
The US said, “Hamas’ attacks on October 7 unleashed a year of conflict, with tragic consequences for Palestinian people. United States mourns the death of every innocent who died on October 7 and in the year since”.

Adding that, “Girls and women were sexually assaulted. The depravity of Hamas’s crimes is almost unspeakable. It is time to reach a ceasefire agreement that brings hostages home, alleviates the suffering of the Israeli and Palestinian people, and ultimately brings an end to this war.

US called on the international community to stand steadfast in the face of terrorism and violent extremism, including the sources of support for groups like Hamas.
Also urged them to condemn Iran’s support for Hamas and other terrorist groups in the region that are responsible for so much death, destruction, and instability.

IOn this painful anniversary, the United States vowed to stand with Israel as it defends itself against terrorism.

“We remain steadfast in our commitment to lasting peace and stability across the region and for a common future for Israelis and Palestinians with equal measures of security, dignity, opportunity, and freedom”, it added.