Hoyer Remarks at Press Conference to Commemorate Two Years Since the October 7 Attack on Israel

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) delivered the following remarks at a press conference with Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), October 7 hostage families and survivors, Ted Deutch, CEO of American Jewish Committee (AJC), and Meredith Jacobs, CEO of Jewish Women International (JWI) to mark two years since Hamas' October 7 attack on Israel. Below is a transcript of his full remarks:

"Ilana, thank you. Today, Israel knows who it will be tomorrow. Orna and Ronen Neutra, Representative Gottheimer, thank you very much for leading the legislation which will ensure that this day of infamy will live in the minds as well as the hearts of all America. Meredith Jacobs, thank you for your leadership. Ted Deutch, our former colleague and my former partner, thank you for investing in peace in the Middle East, peace for the Israeli people, peace for the Arab community is what our objective is.

"Over the past two years, I have visited the site of the Nova Music Festival massacre twice. I have welcomed hostages home after their release. I have mourned with the families of those who did not survive their captivity. I have met with Jews in America, Israel, and beyond who fear for their safety amid a severe spike of antisemitism. How can antisemitism be spiked against the victims? In the United Kingdom just days ago, we saw that anti-Semitic hate led to the murder of Jews while they were worshiping on the holiest day of their year. Two years have not dulled the pain or the trauma that Hamas unleashed on October 7th. 254 people - including 12 Americans - taken hostage. 1,200 plus lost their lives. Countless more were traumatized by the horror of that day. I've spoken to people who were there on the ground, in the kibbutz, that day. That trauma has grown with every hostage executed, every missile launched, every day this war has been drawn out by Hamas.

"This war did not start on our terms. But we must ensure that it ends on our terms. That means securing the return of all 48 hostages, living and dead, still held captive in Gaza - including those who tragically did not survive. Among them are the remains of two Americans: Omer Neutra and Itay Chen. I am grateful that Omer's parents, Orna and Ronen, are here with us today. I have also become good friends with Itay's parents, Ruby and Hagit, who are waiting to sit Shiva for their son, for whom they grieve in his life, not knowing that he had been killed on the day of the attack on this day, two years ago. Crucially, we must end Hamas' brutal rule over Gaza to ensure that October 7th never happens again. Hamas's crimes on October 7th, tragically, have also led to the deaths, injury, and displacement of thousands of Palestinians as well. Hamas has their blood on their hands.

"We need to come together on a plan to surge aid to innocent civilians in Gaza who have suffered throughout this war. The current peace proposal provides a pathway to achieving these objectives. Hamas must accept it, and they must surrender, and they must give up their arms. They must not be a continuing threat to Israel or to the Palestinian people. We need our Arab partners to make them do that. Today, I pray we can make progress toward a just and lasting peace; a peace that Israel has sought every day from 1948 to today. A lasting peace that benefits both Israelis and Palestinians and the region. I pray - I demand that the 48 hostages be released. It's always right to do the right thing. Right now, those hostages ought to be released on this day. Critically, I pray for all those we lost on October 7th, the 732 days since. May their memories be a blessing. May we keep the faith for humanity, and all the world, and Israel."