Biden, Harris mark one year since Oct. 7 attack

President Biden and Vice President Harris on Monday marked the anniversary of the deadly Hamas attacks against Israel that killed nearly 1,200 people, backing Israel’s right to defend itself amid concerns about a wider war in the Middle East.

The separate statements from the two leaders differed only slightly. Both said their support from Israel was unwavering, both condemned the wave of antisemitism that followed the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel and both highlighted the suffering in Gaza amid an Israeli military campaign that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians.

“Today marks one year of mourning for the more than 1,200 innocent people of all ages, including 46 Americans, massacred in southern Israel by the terrorist group Hamas,” Biden said in a statement. “One year since Hamas committed horrific acts of sexual violence. One year since more than 250 innocents were taken hostage, including 12 Americans. One year for the survivors carrying wounds, seen and unseen, who will never be the same. And one year of a devastating war. 

“On this solemn anniversary, let us bear witness to the unspeakable brutality of the October 7th attacks but also to the beauty of the lives that were stolen that day” Biden said in a statement.

Biden noted he visited Israel shortly after the Hamas attacks, and he cited his administration’s ongoing work to broker a cease-fire deal and free the remaining hostages. Hamas has so far released more than 100 hostages, including some Americans, though others have been found dead.

“One year later, Vice President Harris and I remain fully committed to the safety of the Jewish people, the security of Israel, and its right to exist,” Biden said. “We support Israel’s right to defend itself against attacks from Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, and Iran. Last week, at my direction, the United States military once again actively assisted in the successful defense of Israel, helping to defeat an Iranian ballistic missile attack.”

The statements from both leaders called out the impact the past year has had on the Palestinians in Gaza. Biden in particular has drawn criticism from members of his party for not doing more to hold Israel accountable for its military campaign that has killed thousands of civilians, including women and children.

“We will not stop working to achieve a ceasefire deal in Gaza that brings the hostages home, allows for a surge in humanitarian aid to ease the suffering on the ground, assures Israel’s security, and ends this war,” Biden said. “Israelis and Palestinians alike deserve to live in security, dignity, and peace.”

Harris’s statement hit many of the same notes, including when it came to the situation in Gaza. She said she was “heartbroken over the scale of death and destruction in Gaza over the past year.”

“It is far past time for a hostage and ceasefire deal to end the suffering of innocent people,” Harris said. “And I will always fight for the Palestinian people to be able to realize their right to dignity, freedom, security, and self-determination.”

Harris, who is the Democratic nominee for president, has faced pressure from some activists to vow to take a different approach from Biden to the war between Israel and Hamas. But she has not outlined any specific steps she would take to act differently, only insisting that there needs to be a cease-fire deal and an agreement to free the remaining hostages.