A year later, reflecting on the October 7th attacks

It has been nearly a year since the horrific October 7th attacks by the terrorist organization, Hamas, and it is crucial to reflect on what has happened since. On that tragic day, over 1,000 innocent civilians were brutally murdered in one of the deadliest events for Jewish people since the Holocaust. These unprovoked and highly coordinated attacks were carried out with the sole intention of killing as many people as possible. In the aftermath, Israel has fought valiantly to defend itself against terrorist cells throughout the region, and it is our duty to stand with them as they fight for their very existence and the safety of their citizens.

In the early morning hours of October 7, 2023, Hamas launched thousands of rockets into Israel, aiming to overwhelm the Iron Dome system, and then bulldozed their way through the border using explosives, speed boats, and paragliders. These terrorists targeted the Nova music festival, slaughtering attendees indiscriminately before attacking local neighborhoods. The victims included the elderly, babies, entire families, and even Holocaust survivors, who faced widespread sexual violence, torture, and death. The ones who did survive this brutality were dragged through the streets to Gaza’s underground tunnels, where they have been struggling to survive for the past year. This attack is directly in line with Hamas’ original charter, which emphasizes that Israel must be eliminated and jihad against the Jewish people is required.

Since these savage attacks, Israel has rightfully declared war on Hamas and its allies throughout the Middle East. In their efforts to secure the release of the 251 hostages and dismantle Hamas’ operational capabilities, Israeli forces have faced additional threats from Iranian-backed terrorist cells in the region, forcing them to fight on multiple fronts. Through ground operations, coordinated attacks utilizing exploding pagers, and precision strikes, Israel has successfully eliminated key Hamas leaders, but their work is not yet done. Over the weekend, Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, was eliminated as the group continues to attack inside Israel’s borders. For over 30 years, Nasrallah led the massacres and bloodshed of Hezbollah across the Middle East, and there is no denying that ending his rein is a good thing for the region and the world. To prevent another tragedy of the magnitude of October 7th, Hamas and Hezbollah must be completely eradicated.

As a staunch supporter of Israel, I have worked with my colleagues in Congress to pass legislation to aid them in this fight between good and evil. I co-sponsored the Israel Security Assistance Support Act, which ensures that Israel receives the necessary defense shipments to continue their fight, and now that it has passed the House of Representatives, it is time for the Senate to fulfill its duty and send it to the executive branch to be signed into law. I also co-sponsored the Maximum Pressure Act, which would impose additional sanctions on Iran to penalize them for their continued aggression against our ally.

In the face of constant threats from terrorist organizations and hostile nations, Israel has stood as a beacon of democracy and freedom in the Middle East. It is imperative that we, as their ally, continue to stand united in support to ensure its survival and success.