NORTH JERSEY — Today, Thursday, August 1, 2024, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) issued the following statement on the 300-day mark since Hamas terrorists brutally attacked Israel on October 7:

“Three hundred days ago, Hamas terrorists launched a devastating attack against Israel, brutally murdering more than 1,200 people, and kidnapping more than 240 people. 111 people remain captive, including eight Americans. My heart goes out to the families who desperately want to see their loved ones again, especially the family of my constituent Edan Alexander from Tenafly, New Jersey, who spent his twentieth birthday as a hostage.

Ten months after the worst attack on the Jewish people since the Holocaust, our greatest ally in the Middle East, Israel, and Jewish communities around the world are still under threat. Iran and its terrorist proxies, including Hamas, Hezbollah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the Houthis, have continuously attacked Israel, threatening the annihilation of the Jewish people and destruction of the Jewish State. Here at home, Jews have been targeted with vile antisemitism, and denial and distortion of the atrocities committed by Hamas terrorists on October 7.

We must continue to do everything we can to bring the hostages home, including the Americans, crush the terrorists threatening our servicemembers and allies, and provide critical humanitarian assistance to innocent civilians being used as human shields. We must stand up to antisemitism and hate in all forms, at all times. 

Today, we pray for the safe and swift return of the 111 individuals that have spent 300 days as hostages held at the hands of Hamas terrorists. They should not have to spend one more day alone away from their families and their loved ones. This war would be over if tomorrow Hamas put down their weapons and released the hostages. I won’t stop fighting until we bring every single hostage home.”  

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