Congressman Pat Harrigan Statement on the Two-Year Anniversary of the October 7 Attacks

Contact: Lexi Kranich (814) 380-4408

WASHINGTON, D.C.-Congressman Pat Harrigan (NC-10) released the following statement on the two-year anniversary of Hamas's terrorist assault on Israel:

"Two years ago today, Iran-backed Hamas terrorists launched a wave of unspeakable brutality across Israel. More than 1,200 innocent people were massacred in their homes, on the streets, and at a music festival. Families were burned alive, women were violated, and more than 250 hostages-including American citizens-were dragged into Gaza. It was the most horrific assault on the Jewish people since the Holocaust, and it stripped away any illusion about the nature of Hamas and those who enable it.

Hamas operates as a network of killers financed by Tehran and driven by a hatred for Israel and America. Every dollar that reaches its hands, and every word spoken in its defense, empowers the same evil that carried out the atrocities of October 7.

In the two years since, Israel has borne the heavy cost of defending itself against barbaric terrorists. Through unimaginable grief, the Israeli people have shown extraordinary courage and discipline, proving that moral strength is not a slogan but a way of life.

Thanks to the leadership of President Donald J. Trump, the United States has helped shape an agreement to bring home the remaining 48 hostages and to build a framework for a lasting peace rooted in strength, justice, and the complete defeat of Hamas.

On this anniversary, we remember the victims, stand with the families who still wait for their loved ones, and reaffirm America's unwavering support for Israel's right to exist in safety and peace. The world saw evil in its purest form on October 7. It must never be allowed to rise again."