Emhoff meets with American survivor of Hamas attacks

Second gentleman Doug Emhoff met Thursday with an American survivor of the Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel, a White House official said.

Emhoff met with Natalie Sanandaji, who was at a music festival in Israel earlier this month when it was targeted by Hamas, leaving hundreds dead. Sanandaji safely returned to the United States following the attacks.

A White House official said Emhoff relayed President Biden and Vice President Harris’s “steadfast support of Israel, the need to provide humanitarian aid to innocent civilians, and the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to combat antisemitism and hate of all kinds.”

More than 1,400 Israelis died in terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza. Thousands of Palestinians have been killed or injured in subsequent strikes on Gaza. More than two dozen Americans were among those killed, and several U.S. citizens are still unaccounted for.

Emhoff, who is Jewish, has frequently been the face of the administration’s fight against antisemitism.

Emhoff joined Biden last week in a meeting with Jewish community leaders, delivering emotional remarks about the terrorist attacks and speaking about his “deep, visceral connection to Israel and its people.”

Biden traveled to Israel on Wednesday in a show of solidarity. While in Tel Aviv, Biden met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and survivors of the Hamas attacks.