October 7, 2023, was the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust. Three years ago today, Hamas terrorists murdered more than 1,200 people — civilians, servicemembers, children, and grandparents — and took 251 innocent people hostage.
Families endured the agony of waiting. This year, at last, every hostage has come home. For some families, that meant a joyful reunion. For others, it meant finally laying a loved one to rest. My heart is with all of them, and with every innocent person whose life has been taken or upended since October 7, 2023.
I will keep working for an enduring peace: one that confronts antisemitism wherever it appears, including here at home; ensures Hamas can never again threaten the people of Israel and innocent civilians; protects Israel’s security and democracy; delivers the humanitarian relief the people of Gaza still urgently need; and builds a future where Israelis and Palestinians alike can live with security, freedom, dignity, and hope.