State Department Plans Sept. 30 Memorial for American Victims of Oct. 7
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The U.S. State Department is planning a memorial ceremony for American victims of Hamas's October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel, currently scheduled for September 30. The event is being organized with the American Jewish Committee, which is helping bring victims' families to Washington to attend, according to an AJC spokesperson. Ruby Chen, whose son Itay, an American citizen, was killed by Hamas on October 7 and whose body was held in Gaza for more than two years, has advocated for a memorial to the 46 Americans killed on October 7 and in Hamas custody. Chen said earlier this month that senior administration officials had expressed support.