Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin: U.S. joins Israel in mourning those killed in Oct. 7 attack by Hamas

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Monday marked the anniversary of Hamas’ terror assault on Israel and reminded the Israel Defense Forces of their obligation to protect Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip.

Mr. Austin said all states have a duty to ensure the safety of civilians caught up in an armed conflict.

“Over the past year, I have often discussed with Israel’s leaders how protecting Palestinian civilians in Gaza is both a moral responsibility and a strategic imperative,” he said in a statement.

He said the U.S. mourns the death of every Palestinian civilian killed in the West Bank and Gaza “during this awful conflict,” in particular American citizens Tawfiq Ajaq, Mohammad Khdour and Aysenur Eygi.

“We believe that Israelis and Palestinians must find a way to share the land that they both call home,” Mr. Austin said. “That means working to find a path toward two states, living side-by-side in mutual security, as part of a broader, brighter future of Arab-Israeli normalization that includes Israel’s integration into the region.”

Hamas was responsible for the worst terrorist attack in Israel’s history, killing some 1,200 civilians, including more than 40 American citizens, and taking 251 hostages, including 12 Americans.

“One year after the bloodiest day in Jewish history since the end of the Holocaust, we mourn with the people of Israel and with the families of those slain by Hamas — and we stand with the families still working with such courage to free their loved ones from Hamas captivity,” Mr. Austin said.

He said the Department of Defense mourns the death of the Americans murdered by Hamas over the past year, including slain hostages Itay Chen, Gad Haggai, Judy Weinstein Haggai and Hersh Goldberg-Polin.

“Their memories will be a blessing and spur us to action. We will not rest until every hostage has returned home,” Mr. Austin said.

The Oct. 7, 2023, assault by Hamas was a stark reminder of the threat posed by terror organizations backed by Iran.

The Pentagon has surged security assistance to Israel since Oct. 7 and has deployed military forces to the region to protect Americans, support the defense of Israel, and deter further aggression from Iran and its proxy groups like the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

U.S. forces joined with the IDF and other countries on April 13 and Oct. 1 to defeat swarms of missiles and drones that Iran launched at Israel.

“The Department of Defense will not flinch in our commitment to Israel’s security, to combatting terrorism by Hamas and other fanatical groups, to deterring further aggression from Iran, and to work with our allies and partners to promote stability and peace in the Middle East,” Mr. Austin said.