Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump commemorated the anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel. This event marked the beginning of a year of conflict in the Middle East that has significantly influenced the 2024 campaign.
For Vice President Harris, the escalating violence in the Middle East has presented a challenging issue as she leads the Democratic ticket this year. Arab American advocates have urged her to distance herself from President Joe Biden's Israel policy.
Kamala Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, honored the anniversary by planting a pomegranate tree at her Naval Observatory residence. The pomegranate tree symbolizes hope and righteousness in Judaism. Harris and Biden reiterated their support for Israel while also calling for a ceasefire and diplomatic solutions to the conflicts in Gaza and with Hezbollah.
Former President Donald Trump hosted a remembrance event in Florida with Jewish community leaders and visited the final resting place of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson in New York.
Republican Senator JD Vance spoke at a memorial rally in Washington, DC, criticizing Harris for policies that he believes have prolonged Israel's conflict with Hamas. He also questioned her relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz visited a Los Angeles installation honoring the victims of the attacks in Israel. The Nova Exhibition recounts the tragic events at the Nova music festival in southern Israel one year ago. Walz reaffirmed Israel's right to self-defense while advocating for a ceasefire and the release of hostages.
