Hochul describes harrowing stories about Israel

Gov. Kathy Hochul spoke on Thursday afternoon for the first time since she traveled to Israel.

The governor spoke about what she has witnessed so far, saying it’s been more horrific than she could have imagined.

She described hearing stories of seeing a loved one taken hostage or shot and of a young woman in a hospital who was crushed under the weight of family members who were killed.

Hochul said she needed to go and process this in person because there are many people back in New York who stand with the Jewish people and their right to live free to coexist with others.

Hochul is also mourning the loss of her father, who died of a brain hemorrhage on Wednesday night in Florida. He was 87 years old.