No Oct. 7 remembrance, however Justice Department does have fun Palestinian ‘resilience’
The Justice Department has irked employees who say it failed to hold any public commemoration of the one-year mark of Hamas’ terror attack on Israel — but found time a day later to sponsor an event celebrating Palestinian-Americans’ “resilience.”
Tuesday’s Palestinian event was held at the Justice Department’s main building in Washington and was co-sponsored by Muslim Americans in Public Service (MAPS), which maintains an official employee group within the department.
The juxtaposition of the Palestinian event with the lack of public programming for the Oct. 7 commemoration outraged some.
“Symbolism matters, and DOJ’s silence on October 7 while simultaneously promoting Palestinians on October 8 is a clear message from [Attorney General Merrick Garland] that Israel and Jews don’t matter,” one employee said.
The Washington Times has sought comment from the Justice Department.
The Palestinian resilience event was billed as a chance for an FBI employee and first-generation Palestinian American identified as “Sam W.” to “discuss the history, cultural heritage, and contemporary issues facing Palestinian Americans, drawing from his family’s personal journey.”
Department employees could attend in person or online — with refreshments for those showing up in person.
The Times has reached out to MAPS for comment.
Even as the Justice Department was silent, other parts of the government did join Israel Monday in commemorating the anniversary of the October 7, 2023 attack that killed 1,200, including dozens of American citizens, and the taking of more than 200 hostages — many still being held by Palestinian Hamas militants in Gaza.
At the White House, both President Biden and Vice President Harris issued statements decrying Hamas killers’ vicious incursion. Mr. Biden also held a candle-lighting ceremony and Ms. Harris planted a pomegranate tree at the Naval Observatory, the official home of the vice president.
Other Cabinet department heads also marked the somber day.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in a statement, called it a “devastating and tragic anniversary,” adding, “Hamas’ attacks on October 7 unleashed a year of conflict, with tragic consequences for the Palestinian people,” he said.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas called the attack “the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust.”
“In the days, weeks, and months since, Hamas has killed hostages and Israel has rescued others. To this day, innocent people remain captive in the cruel hands of Hamas,” Mr. Mayorkas said.
Israel responded to the incursion with a devastating counterattack aimed at rooting Hamas out of Gaza. The territory’s health ministry counts nearly 42,000 people killed, including large numbers of civilians, and almost 97,000 more injured.
The conflict has roiled U.S. politics, particularly on the Democratic side of the aisle. A vocal contingent on the left has demanded the Biden administration withhold its support for Israel, accusing the Jewish state of genocide in its fierce response to the attack.
Biden officials have pushed unsuccessfully for a cease-fire but have generally rebuffed calls to punish Israel, instead placing blame on Hamas for igniting the war in the densely populated Gaza enclave.
“Far too many civilians have suffered far too much during this year of conflict — and tens of thousands have been killed, a human toll made far worse by terrorists hiding and operating among innocent people,” Mr. Biden said in his statement Monday.
The Justice Department has charged Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and other senior Hamas officials with terrorism offenses stemming from the planning of the Oct. 7 attack.
