Vance calls October 7 an “attack on America” and, in a fiery memorial speech, accuses Harris of failing to bring hostages home

WASHINGTON — Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) railed Monday against the Harris-Biden administration’s response to the Oct. 7 attack on Israel a year ago, saying the deadly Hamas operation was an “attack on America.”

“October 7 wasn’t just an attack on Israel, and it wasn’t just an attack on Jews, it was an attack on Americans – and every single American of common sense and principle must reject it,” the Republican vice presidential candidate told a ” “Standing with Israel” rally on the National Mall.

Vance, 40, also directly slammed Vice President Kamala Harris and President Biden for their failure to secure the release of dozens of American and Israeli hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip over the past 12 months.

“It’s a disgrace that we have an American president and an American vice president who have done nothing” to bring the hostages home, Vance said, urging Harris to use her “authority” to do so.

Both Biden and Harris have worked unsuccessfully to negotiate a ceasefire and hostage-taking deal between Hamas and Israel – many observers do not believe a deal will be reached before the president leaves office on January 20.

Monday’s event at the mall was sponsored by the Philos Project, a nonprofit organization that supports Christian and Jewish activism.

Philos CEO Luke Moon said he secured a permit for a rally on the National Mall on Monday “so the Hamas people don’t get it.”

Vance’s remarks also laid out how an administration led by former President Donald Trump would protect American Jews, “stop funding” anti-Jewish “radicals” and bring home American hostages from around the world.

The measures would include eliminating “accreditation and government support of colleges” that do not protect pro-Israel students, Vance said.

“We want to give Israel the right and ability to finish what Hamas started,” he added. “Israel didn’t start it, Hamas did, but Israel will finish it.”