This past Saturday, the world came together to observe Holocaust Remembrance Day and remember the 11 million innocent lives lost, including six million Jewish victims, during this incredibly dark time in history. This evil genocide carried out by the Nazi regime serves as a stark reminder of the horrors unleashed when hatred and prejudice go unchecked. As antisemitism and attacks on Jewish communities increase today, reflecting on this atrocity becomes more crucial than ever.
From 1941 to 1945, six million Jewish people and millions more who were targeted for ethnicity, religion, political beliefs and much more, fell victim to the most brutal genocide the world ever witnessed. Concentrationcampslocatedacross Europe became haunting manifestations of the unimaginable suffering endured by millions of innocent lives. As we reflect on the collective failure to prevent such atrocities, this remembrance day also served as an emphasis of the continued commitment to prevent future acts of discrimination and violence.
The recent resurgence in antisemitism was certainly exacerbated byHamas’invasionofIsraelandthe deadliest attack seen in 15 years. The results have been nothing short of devastating with countless innocent lives lost, kidnapped and taken hostage or seriously injured, far worse than the United States’ own September 11th.
Israel has been an indispensable ally and partner to the U.S. for decades. There is no room to sympathize with Hamas and its outright hatred of the Jewish people. The U.S. must do its part to stand with Israel and against quickly spreading antisemitism. Moreover, we must provide aid to our ally in its desperate time of need and ensure Hamas’ most significant backer – Iran – does not have access to money that can be used on weapons, training, rockets and weapons of mass destruction.
Those who do not remember history are doomed to repeat it. We cannot forget the putrid evil that was the Holocaust so that it may never happen again. As we remember the victims, we must also strive to build a future where the lessons of the Holocaust shape a world that embraces the inherent dignity of every individual.