Statements
This past Saturday as Israelis concluded Sukkot celebrations, Hamas launched an unprovoked attack on Israeli civilians. The unrelenting infiltration by paragliders, boats, and motorcycles over the border resulted in the loss of more than 900 lives.
Entire families, including very young children, were murdered, and women and children were ripped from homes, raped and kidnapped.
These acts of barbarism are not about addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Hamas has demonstrated its disregard for the Palestinian people in the way it has turned Gaza into a terrorist haven, diverting funds to itself rather than humanitarian efforts to support the 2 million Palestinians who live there.
I stand in complete solidarity with Israel. It has the right and responsibility to respond to this assault and protect its citizens from terrorism.