Gregory Meeks: “My heart goes out to Omer's family. October 7, 2023, was a beautiful, clear day. Omer, a 21-year-old, who decided that…”

“My heart goes out to Omer's family. October 7, 2023, was a beautiful, clear day. Omer, a 21-year-old, who decided that he was going to make a difference and have peace in the Middle East, was just there on duty and then being called because of the horrific attack across the border of Gaza into Israel. At 21 years old, he put everything aside, never thought on that morning when he woke up that he would have to go into battle to try to save lives because a vicious attack of pure hate was taking place. He lost his life, an American-Israeli citizen killed, a tank platoon commander in the IDF. I can't even imagine the strength and the pain that his family, his mother and his father, Ronen and Orna, have felt and continue to feel. We stand here united today, Democrats and Republicans, Members and people of the United States of America saying that we will stand together. We will be with you. We will continue to pray, for we must make sure that his life was not given and taken in vain. Together, we must make sure that his name is forever, as well as all who lost their lives and those who need to be returned home, because all hostages should be returned home immediately, and strive and move for peace in the Middle East. We cannot stop. We cannot forget. We have got to lock arms hand in hand until there is peace, and a 21-year-old who had a dream is not deferred, a 21-year-old who just wanted peace is not stopped.…”