Trump, Harris Mark Anniversary of Hamas Attack on Israel

Former President Donald Trump joined Jewish leaders in New York and Miami on Oct. 7, a yr after Hamas terrorists unleashed “an assault on humanity itself,” he mentioned.

Because the Republican nominee seeks to regain the presidency within the Nov. 5 election, he repeated his previous pledge.

“Right here is my dedication to you on the solemn date,” he informed an viewers on the Trump Nationwide Doral in Miami.

“I cannot permit the Jewish state to be threatened with destruction. I cannot permit one other Holocaust of the Jewish individuals. I cannot permit a jihad to be waged on America or our allies. And I’ll assist Israel’s proper to win its struggle on terror.”

About 1,200 individuals died, and 250 others have been taken hostage within the assault on southern Israel; many victims have been sexually assaulted and tortured.

Trump additionally promised to defend the Jewish inhabitants in America and to fight antisemitism, which has been on the rise as some individuals, notably school college students, protest towards Israel.

In the meantime, Trump’s Democratic political opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, mentioned she would proceed efforts to launch people who terrorists have been nonetheless holding captive.

Harris, whose husband Doug Emhoff is Jewish, mentioned she needs to “relieve the immense struggling of harmless Palestinians in Gaza who’ve skilled a lot ache and loss over the yr.”

The couple planted a pomegranate tree, a logo of hope in Judaism, outdoors their residence.

She promised, “to make sure that the menace Hamas poses is eradicated, that it’s by no means once more in a position to govern Gaza, that it fails in its mission to annihilate Israel, and that the individuals of Gaza are free from the grip of Hamas.”

“We’re not going to cease when it comes to placing that stress on Israel and within the area, together with Arab leaders,” Harris mentioned.

She didn’t immediately reply a query asking whether or not Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was a “actual shut ally.” As an alternative, she acknowledged there’s “an essential alliance between the U.S. and Israel.”

Remembering ‘The Darkest Day’

The previous president and a few of his supporters, together with political donor Dr. Miriam Adelson, say that if he had remained in workplace, the terrorist assault would have been prevented.

Adelson, who spoke earlier than Trump on the Miami occasion, mentioned Oct. 7, 2023, was “The darkest day of my life—of numerous lives.”

She informed the viewers she was sure that enemies “wouldn’t have dared” to assault Israel whereas Trump served as commander-in-chief.

The viewers applauded in settlement and chanted, “Trump!”

Visible Reminders

As candles flickered onstage, representing the souls of people that have been killed, pictures of the deceased lined a wall. Yellow roses and images sat on chairs, placeholders for the hostages.

Referring to these shows, Trump mentioned, “These limitless candles, pictures, and empty chairs remind us why it’s so essential that the poisonous poison of antisemitism be condemned, confronted, and stopped … It has no place in our universities, and it has no place in america of America.”

Trump mentioned he had spoken with family members of 1 hostage from America, and so they imagine he’s nonetheless alive now.

Earlier within the day, Trump commemorated the anniversary with members of the Orthodox Jewish group in Queens, New York, at a sacred tomb.

The Related Press and Reuters contributed.