Secretary Rubio Learned ‘Everybody’s Story’ Ahead of Memorial Honoring Americans Who Died on October 7

For a memorial service Wednesday, the State Department hosted the families of the 46 Americans who perished during the October 7 terrorist attacks in Israel. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick spoke to attendees about grief and their loved ones.

“I showed them [Rubio and Lutnick] the picture of my girls, and he [Rubio] told me, ‘I know everybody’s story. I learned about each one of your kids,'” Menashe Manzuri, a father who lost his two daughters — Norelle and Roya — told reporters that evening following the memorial, which was closed to press.

“Every year we’re going to be here to remember our kids, and it’s very important for us that somebody does. We don’t forget our kids. Every day they are in our thoughts and memory, and when somebody is taking his time to remember them and to honor them, it’s very nice. When you feel somebody sharing your pain, it means a lot to us.”

Attendees also appreciated Lutnick’s remarks, as well as those made by his wife Allison, who was also in attendance. Lutnick spoke about losing his brother and 658 employees on 9/11, and he gave the families advice on how to move forward from this tragedy, Manzuri said.

Ruby Chen’s son Itay was an Israeli Defense Force soldier who was captured and killed on October 7; his body was held for more than 760 days. Chen called on Congress to initiate an investigation into the October 7 terrorist attacks.

“I think that the United States can do much more to suck out the oxygen from these terrorist organizations,” Chen told reporters. “They should bring these people to justice on United States soil and bring justice to the families that you see here, for our loved ones.” 

Earlier this month was the third anniversary of the attacks, and many Israelis are still looking for answers about how more than 1,200 people were killed by Hamas terrorists that day.

“For the love of God, if Israel is not capable of creating an investigation committee, then I think it is suitable and appropriate that the good people of the United States, the people in Congress, to provide us the answers that we’re looking for,” Chen said.

Ido Dan echoed Chen’s desire for a probe into the events and responses. His aunt, Carmela Dan, was killed with her granddaughter, Noya Dan.

“After 2,000 years, we came back to our own country with the promise of ‘never again,'” Dan told reporters. “Without doing this probe, I don’t think we can ever promise to any of our children and our grandchildren that it will never happen again.”

David Brief and his wife, Hazel, lost their son Yonah, an IDF soldier who sustained wounds while responding to the attacks. Yonah was hospitalized for more than 14 months before dying from his injuries.

“We’re here to memorialize what happened,” Brief told reporters. “Marco Rubio touched us because he understood where we are coming from and what is important to us. He knew how to speak to us, and he said the things that we wanted to hear.”

“This event that we’re going through, is not just about Israel. It’s about the terrorism of the world that is fighting against the Western World. I got the impression Trump understands this, Lutnick understands this, and Rubio understands this. . . . That’s why it’s so important to memorialize this — not just for what happened, but for what we need to do to prevent it.”