Bronx leaders call for unity, end to hate, and return of hostages on anniversary of Oct. 7 terror attacks

oct 7
New Yorkers gathered in Central Park just after sundown Monday night to mark the first anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023 terrorist attacks in Israel with a solemn vigil honoring the dead and those taken hostage.
Lloyd Mitchell

Several Bronx representatives marked the anniversary of the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks on Israel by calling for unity in the borough, an end to hate, the return of the hostages, and an end to the violence. It’s been a year since Hamas militants entered Israel and murdered 1,200 people, taking over 250 hostages, in the deadliest attack on Jews since the Holocaust. 

Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson’s message was one of unity, praising the borough for its solidarity following the tragedy. 

“What we saw in the days and weeks following Oct. 7, was communities united with our Jewish neighbors standing shoulder to shoulder,” Gibson said in the statement. “I have seen our Borough come together in the spirit of unity, overcoming division and instead building bridges.”

She also had a call to action for people in the Bronx – to honor the memory of the people who died that day by rejecting hate.

“Let us continue to support our Jewish communities and focus on what unites us,” Gibson said in a statement. “Let us continue to demand the return of all the hostages. Let us continue to fight for peace here at home and in Israel.” 

State Assembly Member Jefferey Dinowitz, whose district includes Riverdale, Kingsbridge, Van Cortlandt Village, Kingsbridge Heights, Marble Hill, Norwood, Woodlawn and Wakefield, also released a statement recognizing the horrors of Oct. 7. His statement highlighted the suffering of the hostages who are still being held. 

“Now more than ever, it is imperative that we continue to demand their immediate release,” Dinowitz said in his statement. “There is no place for holding civilians hostage in any conflict. It is a violation of international law, of human rights, and of our shared humanity.”

The North Bronx assembly member also addressed Palestinian suffering, blaming Hamas.

“Hamas has no interest in peace or the welfare of Palestinians,” Dinowitz said in the statement. “Their actions serve only to perpetuate a cycle of violence, pain, and suffering for both Israelis and Palestinians.”

Meanwhile U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who represents parts of Queens and the East Bronx, issuing a statement pertaining to the shock and horror of the events Oct. 7. But she struck a tone more critical of the war in Gaza and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu than her fellow Bronx representatives.

“Prime Minister Netanyahu pursued a path of mass revenge, killing over 40,000 Palestinians, blocking humanitarian aid, pushing Gaza to the brink of famine while only further endangering the lives of hostages, and consistently undermining ceasefire negotiations,” Ocasio-Cortez said in a statement. 

She further criticized the Biden administration’s handling of the war, saying that the administration has failed to prevent the conflict from escalating.

“None of this was inevitable. And it can still be stopped. Hamas, Israel, and Hezbollah should agree to a lasting ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon. The Biden Administration must uphold U.S. humanitarian law and withhold offensive military support when it is violated.”

Ocasio-Cortez called for the protection of Jewish people from antisemitism alongside protecting Palestinian lives and human rights. 

Monday saw events all over the city calling for the release of the more than 100 hostages still held captive by Hamas, including eight Americans.