Texas and New York Honor October 7 Attack Anniversary

Governors Greg Abbott and Kathy Hochul ordered flags at state buildings to be flown at half-staff on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, to commemorate the third anniversary of the Hamas-led terrorist attacks on Israel. The 2023 assaults resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths, including 44 Americans, and the abduction of over 250 hostages.

In Texas, Abbott directed all state buildings, facilities, and offices to lower U.S. and Texas flags until sunset. He encouraged businesses and municipalities to do the same in solidarity with the Jewish community. This action follows similar annual commemorations in 2024 and 2025. Following the original attacks, Abbott provided more than $4 million in public safety funds to 31 Jewish organizations and ordered the Texas Department of Public Safety to implement heightened security.

In New York, Hochul ordered flags to half-staff and the illumination of several landmarks in yellow, including One World Trade Center, Grand Central Terminal’s Pershing Square Viaduct, and the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge. The Israeli flag was flown at the state Capitol and Empire State Plaza. To protect synagogues and yeshivas, Hochul's administration increased security funding, including a $70 million allocation in April through the Securing Communities Against Hate Crimes program.