Capital District Times

House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik has released a statement marking the one-year anniversary of the October 7th terrorist attacks by Hamas on Israel. She described it as "the bloodiest day since the Holocaust" for the Jewish people, with Iranian-backed Hamas terrorists responsible for the deaths of 1,200 Israelis and taking 251 hostages. Currently, 97 hostages remain captive, including four Americans.

Stefanik emphasized the importance of supporting Israel in its fight for survival and stated that this is not just Israel's battle. She criticized what she sees as antisemitism spreading through American society and higher education institutions, which she attributes to "the moral equivocation of a failed Biden-Harris Administration and the radical pro-Hamas Democrat Party."

She highlighted her efforts in Congress to combat antisemitism and support Israel, mentioning her address at the Israeli Knesset in May. As a senior member of both the House Armed Services Committee and House Intelligence Committee, Stefanik noted her work with Republican colleagues to pass legislation providing military aid to Israel.

Stefanik expressed concerns about current U.S. foreign policy under Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden, claiming it has empowered adversaries like Iran through sanction relief and delays in military aid to Israel. She called for a return to former President Trump's maximum pressure campaign against Iran.

The full statement can be accessed via this link: https://stefanik.house.gov/2024/10/statement-on-the-one-year-anniversary-since-hamas-october-7th-terrorist-attacks-on-israel