SPOKANE, Wash. – Congressman Michael Baumgartner, a Republican representing Washington’s 5th District, released the following statement on the anniversary of the October 7 attacks in Israel amid peace negotiations taking place in Egypt.
“Two years ago, Hamas carried out the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust. We remember the innocent lives taken, stand with survivors and families, and continue to pray for the safe return of every hostage. Terror must be condemned without equivocation, and antisemitism must be confronted wherever it appears.
“Guided by President Trump’s 20-point framework—and sustained by U.S. diplomacy with Egypt and Qatar—mediators are in Cairo working toward a ceasefire, a release of all hostages, and an end to the fighting. I pray these talks make real progress—swiftly. Any outcome must ensure Israel’s security, bring hostages home, uphold human dignity, and open space for relief and reconstruction in Gaza. On this solemn anniversary, we choose remembrance, resolve, and just peace.”
Approximately 1,200 Israeli civilians were killed during the attacks on October 7, 2023, according to the U.S. Justice Department, when Hamas launched rockets into Israel.
The Gaza Ministry of Health has estimated around 67,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began.
Negotiators from Israel and Hamas have been meeting in Egypt over the last several days with support from the U.S. and Qatar. On Friday, President Trump called on Israel to “immediately stop the bombing of Gaza” on social media.
