New York Governor's Father Dies During Israel Visit

New York Governor Kathy Hochul's father died suddenly while she was visiting Israel. Hochul learned of her father's death while on a trip to show support for Israel during its war with Hamas.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul's father, John Courtney, died suddenly from a brain hemorrhage in Florida while she was visiting Israel. Hochul learned of her father's death as she embarked on the second day of a trip to show support for Israel during its war with Hamas.

Hochul Visits Western Wall

At the Western Wall in Jerusalem, Hochul appeared to wipe away a tear before placing a handwritten note with prayers for Israel and for her father into a crack in the limestone wall. She wrote, "As the state with the largest Jewish population outside of Israel, New York and Israel share a bond that will never be broken."

Gaza Conflict

Hochul's visit comes as the Israeli military has relentlessly attacked Gaza in retaliation for a bloody cross-border massacre by Hamas militants in southern Israel almost two weeks ago. According to Gaza's Health Ministry, 3,785 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 12,500 others have been wounded since the outbreak of the war. In Israel, more than 1,400 people have been killed and roughly 200 others were abducted and taken into Gaza by Hamas.

Hochul Meets with Israeli Families

During her visit, Hochul met with Israeli families displaced by the conflict and heard painful stories from families of American citizens taken hostage by Hamas and from Israelis who have been wounded during the fighting. She also held meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's ambassador to the US Michael Herzog, and Israeli President Isaac Herzog, reiterating New York's solidarity with Israel.

Funding for Hochul's Trip

A nonprofit organization is funding travel costs for Hochul and her staff, and the state is covering the costs for her security detail, according to the governor's office.

US President Joe Biden's Visit

US President Joe Biden, a fellow Democrat, flew to Israel for a 7 1/2-hour visit on Wednesday. He offered support for the Israeli people and urged the delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Escalating Fears in Gaza

Israeli airstrikes have pounded locations across the besieged Gaza Strip, including parts of the south that Israel had declared as safe zones. The attacks on Thursday have heightened fears among more than 2 million Palestinians trapped in the territory that nowhere was safe. More than 1 million Palestinians, roughly half of Gaza's population, have fled their homes in Gaza City and other places in the northern part of the territory.

The situation in Israel and Gaza remains tense and fluid, with ongoing concerns for the safety and well-being of civilians in the region.