October 7, 2026
BOSTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) issued the following statement marking the three-year anniversary of the horrific October 7th attack by Hamas, and the Israeli military’s ongoing genocide in Gaza and attacks across the Middle East.
Congresswoman Pressley has consistently called for humanitarian aid and meaningful, lasting peace and a ceasefire in Gaza to save the lives of civilians, hostages, Palestinians, Israelis, and Americans.
“As we mark three years since the October 7th attack, it is incumbent upon us all to center the humanity of every impacted individual and honor those whose lives were taken in such inhumane, horrifying acts on that day and every day since. The world watched in horror as Hamas senselessly murdered and took hostage Americans, Israelis, elders, babies, parents, and others. During the past three years, the world has borne witness to the horrors of the Israeli military’s genocide against the Palestinian people, children, women, elders, people with disabilities, and so many innocent civilians and families who have suffered unimaginable loss, cried for help, and grieved as a result.
“We must renew our calls for action. That means ending this horrific and ongoing genocide, surging humanitarian aid and prioritizing medical evacuation, cutting off U.S. taxpayer dollars to arm the Israeli military, leveraging diplomacy to de-escalate broader regional conflict, and enforcing a true, lasting, and meaningful ceasefire.
“Every day that goes by without our action is another day the United States is actively supporting the Israeli military’s massacre and destruction, and another day that innocent people across the region—including Israelis, Palestinians, Americans, Iranians, and more—are subjected to violence, displacement, starvation, and death.
“Since that horrific day, I have sat with the loved ones of hostages, those who were killed, and those we’ve lost in the three years since—and I carry their stories with me daily. Time and again, they have spoken of our shared humanity. They’ve joined our broad, diverse coalition for a lasting peace. And they remind us daily that our freedoms and our destinies are tied.
“Today, I remain fiercely committed to pushing for the safety and survival of every individual impacted. I keep close to my heart that every life is a universe, every person killed was someone’s child, parent, grandparent, and beloved community member.”
Since the horrific October 7th attack, Congresswoman Pressley has consistently and stridently called for a ceasefire to save lives, return all hostages, and surge humanitarian aid to Gaza.
In December 2025, Rep. Pressley made an urgent plea to her fellow Members of Congress to advance humanitarian action to save children in Gaza.
In September 2025, Rep. Pressley joined Congresswoman Delia Ramírez (IL-03), actors Cynthia Nixon and Morgan Spector, Mahmoud Khalil, Dr. Adil Husain, Congressional colleagues, and advocates to call for the passage of H.R. 3565, the Block the Bombs Act, to save lives and withhold the transfer of offensive weapons to the Israeli government and demand the Israeli military’s compliance with U.S. and international law.
In August 2025, Rep. Pressley and Rep. Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) led 101 of their colleagues in calling on the Trump Administration to use its full power and authority to demand that Israeli government immediately facilitate a massive surge in all humanitarian aid, and in particular infant formula, into Gaza to address the crisis of starvation. After receiving no response and no action from Secretary Marco Rubio, Reps. Pressley and Pettersen condemned his silence and renewed their call for an immediate surge in infant formula and humanitarian aid. Upon receiving a lacking written response from the State Department, Reps. Pressley and Pettersen doubled down on their demands.
In April 2024, Rep. Pressley delivered a floor speech in which she called for urgent de-escalation in the region and renewed her calls for a ceasefire in Gaza and Israel to prevent a broader regional war. Rep. Pressley introduced a pair of amendments to increase funding to global humanitarian assistance and place a one-year moratorium on the transfer of offensive weapons to the Israeli military.
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