Niagara Leader

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney of New York's 24th District issued a statement marking the one-year anniversary of the October 7th attacks by Hamas. In her statement, she described the attacks as "heinous" and attributed them to Hamas, an organization she referred to as Iranian-backed. The congresswoman noted that over a thousand civilians, including Americans, were victims of these attacks.

She expressed her dismay at what she sees as insufficient condemnation of Hamas in the United States, pointing out pro-Hamas activities and anti-Semitic sentiments on college campuses and among some members of Congress. She criticized those who call for a ceasefire while not addressing Iranian-backed actions against Israel.

Tenney highlighted that more than 97 hostages from the attack remain captive, including American citizens. She recounted meeting with families of hostages and reiterated calls for their release. She also mentioned Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an American citizen killed by Hamas after being held captive for nearly a year.

The congresswoman criticized the Biden administration for not addressing what she views as the root cause of the attacks: Iran's support for terrorist groups like Hamas. She called for reinstating previous sanctions on Iran and urged full support for Israel in its efforts against Hamas and Hezbollah.

Despite these challenges, Tenney sees hope in regional cooperation facilitated by the Abraham Accords. She cited assistance from Middle Eastern countries to Israel during an attack by Iran as evidence of progress towards peace. Tenney remains committed to supporting Israel and working towards lasting peace in the region.