Former President Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris will each attend events commemorating the one-year anniversary of the tragic Hamas attack on Jewish people, happening on Monday, October 7th. On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched an assault in Israel, resulting in the death of about 1,200 people, including 46 American citizens, and the abduction of around 250 hostages. One year later, approximately 100 hostages, including several Americans, remain in captivity. Negotiations led by the United States for a ceasefire and the release of hostages have unfortunately failed.
According to the Associated Press, Trump will visit the grave of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson in New York City. Rabbi Schneerson led the vibrant Chabad-Lubavitch movement of Orthodox Judaism from 1951 until his passing in 1994. Following this visit, Trump will deliver a speech to Jewish community leaders at one of the Florida vacation resorts in Doral, near Miami.
Harris will give a brief speech to reporters and then plant a pomegranate tree at the Vice President’s residence with her husband, Doug Emhoff, who is Jewish, in honor of the victims from a year ago.
On Monday morning, Doug Emhoff recited a peace prayer at the annual commemoration event hosted by the American Jewish Committee in Washington.
President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden also held a memorial ceremony at the White House on Monday, commemorating the one-year anniversary of the attack. Rabbi Aaron Alexander from the Adas Israel Congregation in Washington read Jewish memorial prayers for the over 1,200 victims of the attack.
Trump blames the current Biden-Harris administration for this war with Hamas, believing they empower Iran.
During a radio interview with conservative host Hugh Hewitt on Monday, Trump stated, “I’ve done more for Israel than anybody else,” “It’s not equal, as they call it.”
Trump has repeatedly suggested that Jewish voters who support the Democratic Party “should check their brains.” Recently, he mentioned that if he loses to Harris in the presidential election on November 5, “it would be monumental, and it would really have something to do with Jewish people.”
In an upcoming pre-recorded interview on CBS’s “60 Minutes,” Harris avoided directly answering whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is considered a “genuine close ally.” She instead emphasized the importance of the alliance between the American and Israeli people.
In contrast, Trump has been more straightforward, openly criticizing Netanyahu for being “unprepared” for deadly attacks from Hamas.