To commemorate 103 days since Hamas invaded Israel on Oct. 7, killing more than 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and taking 240 hostages, members of the House of Representatives held a speech at the Capitol on Wednesday night. A solemn candlelight vigil was held on the stairs.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) said a bipartisan group had gathered on a “very sad anniversary” to commemorate the deaths, which included 33 Americans, before Israel declared war. He said he offered a similar prayer for peace a month later. against terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip.
“More than 70 days ago, this group gathered to remember the October 7th attack on the Jewish people. And we are here again, because your sons and daughters are still in the captivity of Hamas. Because there are,” Johnson said.
“Kfir Bivas is one of those in captivity. He has just turned one year old. Hamas took him hostage four months ago. And his parents are now remembering his birthday. We hope to have him back in our arms soon.”
Families of other hostages joined the House delegation on the east side of the Capitol, standing shoulder to shoulder with members of Congress and cradling posters of their loved ones in their arms.
Republicans and Democrats huddled in the cold, each holding a small candle and holding up the number 103 taped to the lapels of their winter coats, marking the passage of time since the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust. commemorated.
Mr Johnson continued: “We must continue to tell the truth about Hamas' actions.” “In the aftermath of the attack, we heard shocking details about the widespread and unspeakable violence committed by Hamas terrorists against innocent civilians.”
He added that it was “difficult to repeat this detail” but “we have to face it” before describing some of the most gruesome acts committed by terrorists.
“We learned that women were raped by terrorists and had their pelvic bones broken. Those animals decapitated their babies. Hamas told children that their parents were tortured and killed. “They then forced the parents to watch their children being murdered. They brutally pointed a gun at the Jewish woman's genitals and fired mercilessly,” Johnson said.
“We must testify about the women who are being beaten, tortured and caged as hostages in Gaza. We must hear the cries of Jewish boys whose feet were branded with tubes.”
“We will not tolerate that. We must stand together in solidarity with the Jewish people. And we will stand together, from synagogues in Brooklyn to my rural church home in northwest Louisiana. From the Senate to the House of Representatives, we stand with Israel because we believe that light can overcome darkness.”
House Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar (Calif.) spoke on behalf of Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), who was absent, and said, “To defeat the threat of Hamas and terrorism, requires bipartisan cooperation.”
“The last 100 days have been challenging for many of us. Today we want to leave no doubt that partisanship must be set aside when it comes to the safety and security of the Israeli people. ,” Aguilar said.
“It is our responsibility, not as Democrats or Republicans, but as Americans, to protect our strongest allies in the Middle East.” “Ending the rise in anti-Semitism and Islamophobia will require bipartisan cooperation, and ensuring lasting and sustainable peace in the Middle East will require bipartisan cooperation.”
Rep. Kathy Manning (D-North Carolina) said her decision to recite a modern version of the POW prayer, which is regularly recited in synagogues, “takes on new urgency” in the wake of the Hamas attack. ” he said.
“While some have tried to compare Israel's war against Hamas terrorists to acts of evil, there is no comparison,” added Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio). “As a Jew, if you are Jewish and you have a Jewish family member or a Jewish friend, you have nothing to fear.”
“Look behind me. Look at this Congress and know that we stand with the Jewish people,” he said.
Prime Minister Johnson concluded with a moment of silence and a prayer for “peace in Jerusalem.”
Hours earlier, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a similar event to honor the dead, attended by families of the hostages.
