WASHINGTON—To mark the second anniversary of the horrific Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attacks that took the lives of more than 1,000 Israelis, national security experts at The Heritage Foundation issued the following statement demanding the release of all hostages still held by the brutal terrorist organization.  

Victoria Coates, vice president of the Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for National Security and Foreign Policy, and Daniel Flesch, senior policy analyst for the Middle East and North Africa at the Allison Center for National Security, reaffirmed support for Israel’s fight against Hamas:  

“On Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas launched a barbaric and unjustifiable assault on Israel, murdering more than 1,200 men, women, and children, including the elderly and babies, in the deadliest attack on the Jewish people since the Holocaust. Hamas terrorists kidnapped more than 250 back into Gaza, where they have held and tortured these hostages for two years. 

 

“For two years, Hamas has used these hostages—Israelis, Americans, and citizens of many nations, as human shields. Driven by a genocidal desire to destroy the Jewish people and the Jewish state, Hamas also represents a threat to the foundations of Western civilization. 

 

“The safe return of the hostages and the lasting security of Israel remain the true measures of victory. Thanks to the leadership of President Trump and the enduring partnership between the United States and Israel, both goals are now within reach. 

 

“The Heritage Foundation stands unwavering in our support for Israel—America’s greatest ally in the Middle East—and we demand the immediate release of all hostages held by Hamas.” 

The U.S.-Israel relationship is an important partnership, anchored in shared democratic values. The Heritage Foundation remains committed to Israel’s right to defend itself and defeat Hamas.