Rep. Byron Donalds issued a statement this week marking the second anniversary of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, detailing his efforts to combat what he describes as a resurgence of antisemitism in America.
"For years, we repeated the slogan, 'Never Again,'" Byron Donalds emphasized. "For years, we treated the horrors of the Holocaust as despicable remnants of a bygone era. For years, we never thought that in the comfort of modern society, such an evil would resurface. Two years ago, it did... and everything changed."
The October 7, 2023, attack saw Hamas-led militants launch a surprise attack on southern Israel, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and the abduction of 251 individuals. Two years later, 48 hostages remain unaccounted for.
Donald detailed his office's immediate response, including helping Southwest Florida residents evacuate Israel as the conflict began. He then outlined numerous legislative actions he has supported, including proposals to prevent financial aid to Iran, sanctioning Iranian oil sales, and authorizing additional assistance to Israel using confiscated Iranian assets.
Donald’s Direct Support
"When anti-Semitic agitators flooded Capitol Hill to harass, shout-down, and disrupt pro-Israel lawmakers, I refused to back down," he said. "With our community in mind, I took them on, I debated them on camera, and I picked-apart their indefensible arguments."
Donalds introduced legislation to strip federal funding from colleges that he says failed to protect Jewish students, arguing they violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. He also described walking through an encampment at George Washington University alongside Jewish students and House Oversight Committee colleagues, which he says led to its shutdown by D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser.
"The Jewish people are a resilient people," Donalds explained. "In every decade, of every century, anti-Semites have devised hateful plots seeking their demise. But they have all failed. And they will fail again."
National Recognition
The statement comes as President Donald Trump announced that technical teams will meet on Monday in Egypt to finalize details of the hostage negotiations. He stated that "the first phase should be completed this week" and urged parties to "MOVE FAST," warning that "TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE OR, MASSIVE BLOODSHED WILL FOLLOW."
Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed support for the negotiations, noting that the administration's 20-point plan "offers a historic opportunity to close this dark chapter, and to build a foundation for lasting peace and security for all."
"'I stand with you. Our state stands with you. And our nation stands with you,'" Donalds declared, affirming his commitment to the Jewish community.
