JNS: Congressional Israel Allies Caucus pledges support following Hamas assault

(October 8, 2023 / JNS)

The heads of the Israel Allies Caucus in the U.S. Congress have pledged bipartisan support for the State of Israel following Saturday’s surprise attack on Israel from Gaza, and said they will work on Capitol Hill to provide any assistance the Jewish state needs.

“The heinous attacks by Hamas comes one day after the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur war and is a stark reminder of the existential threats that Israel continues to face in the region,” read a statement co-signed by Reps Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.), Brad Schneider (D-Ill.), Chris Smith (R-N.J.) and Brad Sherman (D-Calif.).

“Make no mistake, we are united in our bipartisan commitment to ensure the United States Congress continues to stand alongside our closest ally in the Middle East and that the Israeli people have all the necessary resources to protect their sovereign right to self-defense,” the statement continued.

Founded in 2006, the bipartisan Israel Allies Caucus was the first in a parliamentary network of more than 50 pro-Israel caucuses the world over that mobilize political support for Israel based on shared Judeo-Christian values.

Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also offered unflinching support for Israel.

“As the barbarity of today’s atrocities becomes clearer, we stand unequivocally with Israel,” he wrote Saturday night on X, formerly known as Twitter. “This attack by Hamas is cowardly and depraved.”

Sunak added that he expressed his “full solidarity” in a telephone call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and pledged to work with international partners to coordinate support.

“Hamas are not ‘fighters.’ Hamas are not ‘militants.’ Hamas are terrorists,“ British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly wrote. “There is no other word to describe the brutality of firing rockets or terrorist attacks targeting civilians.”