Josh Gottheimer

Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-Tenafly, marked the third anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attack on Israel by unveiling a bipartisan resolution aimed at remembering the victims and honoring the hostages and their families. He also announced efforts to combat terrorism and antisemitism.

Standing beneath the Edan Alexander Way street sign in Tenafly, Gottheimer was joined by local officials, Jewish leaders and the family of Edan Alexander, the Tenafly native who was abducted during Hamas' attack on Israel and held captive in Gaza for 584 days before being released in May 2025.

Gottheimer praised Alexander and his parents, Adi and Yael, for their strength and perseverance throughout the ordeal, saying that he grew close to the family while working to secure the young man's release. With Alexander's parents standing behind him, the congressman announced a package of measures intended to honor the victims, survivors, hostages and families affected by the attack, while condemning Hamas and addressing the rise in antisemitism that followed.

"It is unfathomable" that some people are now "glorifying Hamas terrorists as martyrs" or attempting to justify the violence of Oct. 7, Gottheimer said, noting that terrorists "brutally murdered, raped, burned alive, decapitated and kidnapped more than 1,200 people."

"We will speak the truth about Oct. 7. We will stand up to hate wherever it rears its ugly head," he said. "And we will never stop fighting for the day when Hamas lays down its arms for good and communities can live in peace."

The October 7 Remembrance Resolution is a bipartisan measure with 50 co-sponsors that commemorates the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust. The resolution honors those who were killed and taken hostage, reaffirms Israel's right to self-defense, supports a future Gaza free from Hamas rule and condemns the rise of antisemitism around the world.

Gottheimer also highlighted the proposed Oct. 7 Congressional Gold Medal Act, first introduced last year, which would collectively award the Congressional Gold Medal to American victims and hostages of the attack, including Americans who survived captivity in Gaza. Under the proposal, the medal would be displayed at the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia.

The congressman noted that antisemitic incidents have surged since the attack and spoke about some of the events that have occurred over the past few years. New Jersey ranked third in the nation in reported antisemitic incidents last year, while Bergen County recorded 139 incidents, the highest total of any county in the state.

"Since Hamas' devastating attack, we have witnessed a tidal wave of antisemitism that began almost immediately," Gottheimer said. "Instead of empathy from people and organizations around the globe, there was a flood of criticism and blame, and it hasn't stopped."

To combat that trend, Gottheimer is also backing the Oct. 7 Remembrance Education Act, which would direct the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum to develop educational materials about the attack and the antisemitism that followed."We can't afford for our children to learn history from TikTok," he said.

And he unveiled new legislation that would hold the United Nations accountable until it has designated Hamas and Hezbollah as terrorist organizations. "Because Hamas isn't on the list, UN agencies don't screen for Hamas membership when they hire," he said, adding that more than 100 staff of UNRWA have been found to have Hamas affiliations.

Gottheimer was not the only elected official to mark the anniversary, which has become a day of mourning and reflection for many in the Jewish community. Political leaders across New Jersey and New York issued statements honoring the victims, remembering the hostages and condemning antisemitism.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul ordered flags on state buildings flown at half-staff and directed several landmarks to be illuminated in yellow in solidarity with Israel. New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill said in a social media post that her "heart is with every New Jerseyan still grieving the horrific Oct. 7 terrorist attacks." Reps. Chris Smith and Rob Menendez also issued statements honoring the victims and condemning antisemitism.

Gottheimer's Republican challenger, Sean Kearney, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Alexander, who was raised in Tenafly, moved to Israel after graduating from Tenafly High School in 2022 and volunteered for service in the Israel Defense Forces. He was abducted while stationed near the Gaza border on Oct. 7 and spent 584 days in captivity before being released on May 12, 2025.

Later that year, Tenafly honored Alexander by renaming a street outside Borough Hall in his honor. He subsequently returned to Israel to complete his military service and has since been discharged. Alexander is now preparing to begin college, his parents said.

Among those attending Tuesday's event was Edward Dauber of Englewood, who came with his wife to show support for Gottheimer. He praised the congressman for supporting the Jewish community on a difficult anniversary. "He's a good voice for everyone," Dauber said. "He does what's right, not just what's political."