WEST HARTFORD, Conn. — A somber memorial took place in West Hartford Monday night, marking a year since the brutal Hamas attack in Israel that left approximately 1,200 people dead, thousands injured and hundreds in captivity.
“We said never again and all of a sudden we saw it happen again one year ago. The most horrific, sadistic, brutal attack. We thought that couldn’t happen and there it was,” Gov. Ned Lamont said.
Lamont was among speakers at the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford’s remembrance event. He reiterated America’s support of Israel while calling for peace as war rages on in the Middle East.
“We’re standing with our friend, we’re standing with our family, we’re standing with an ally, we’re standing with Israel and we will always stand with Israel," Lamont said.
The memorial event centered on three themes: remembrance, resilience and rebuilding.
“Twelve-hundred killed. Thousands injured. Hostages still in the tunnels of Gaza and so we remember them tonight,” said David Waren, the president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford. “It’s also about unity and resiliency. In the days after Oct. 7, our community here in Greater Hartford raised over $7 million to support those most in need."
U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal had also been scheduled to attend the ceremony, but instead traveled to Israel to mark the day there, meeting with Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu.
Blumenthal stated in part, “We reiterated our commitment to bring home all the hostages – including those brutally murdered. I hope that diplomacy may achieve a cessation of fighting, leading to the return of the hostages, and a path toward normalizing relations in the region, along with humanitarian aid and rebuilding.”
According to Israeli officials, Hamas is currently holding 101 hostages, 36 of whom have been declared dead. The militant group has not released the bodies. Meantime, the death toll in Gaza is nearing 42,000 people.
Kaelee Collins is a multimedia journalist for FOX61 News. She can be reached at kcollins@fox61.com. Follow her on X, and Instagram.
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