Gov. Greg Abbott (R) ordered the United States and Texas flags at all state buildings lowered to half-staff Wednesday, October 7, marking three years since the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel.
The flags should return to full-staff at sunset Wednesday. Abbott also encouraged individuals, businesses, municipalities and other political subdivisions to lower their flags for the same period.
“Three years ago, Hamas carried out a brutal terrorist attack on the State of Israel and murdered more than 1,200 men, women, and children,” Abbott said in the October 6 press release. “Texas stands with Israel and with the Jewish community. We will always honor the lives lost that day.”
Order honors victims
Abbott’s formal order, dated October 6, directed Texas flags at all state buildings, facilities and offices to half-staff under Chapter 3100 of the Texas Government Code. The letter honors those who lost their lives in the October 7, 2023, attack, including Americans in Israel.
In the letter, Abbott also extended prayers on behalf of himself and first lady Cecilia Abbott to those affected by the attack.
Three years since the attack
Hamas terrorists and militants from other Palestinian terrorist organizations entered Israel by land, sea and air on October 7, 2023, killing an estimated 1,200 people and taking 253 Israeli and foreign citizens hostage, according to the U.S. Department of State’s 2023 terrorism report. The department documented 44 American deaths and said attackers took 12 Americans hostage.
Abbott issued a similar flag order in the days after the attack. At an Austin solidarity gathering in October 2023, he said Texas would stand with Israel and Jewish Texans, as The Dallas Express previously reported.
Provided by Dallas Express
