David Kustoff
10/07/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/07/2024 08:43
Congressman Kustoff Marks One Year Since Hamas' Barbaric Attack on Israel
WASHINGTON, D.C. -Congressman David Kustoff (R-TN) recently spoke on the floor of the House of Representatives to mark one year since Hamas' barbaric attack on Israel.
Click here to watch his remarks or read them as prepared below:
I rise today to mark the one-year anniversary of Hamas' vicious and horrific attack on Israel.
As we all know, in the early morning of October 7th, Hamas invaded and brutally attacked Israel and her people-murdering over 1200 innocent men, women, and children, including over 35 Americans. These terrorists violently took hostages, including Americans.
In the weeks after the attacks, I watched a 47-minute video taken on October 7th along with other member of Congress. All of us who saw the images and heard the words and the language of that day were horrified. The savagery, barbarism, violence, and pure hatred against Israel and the Jewish people is indescribable in that video.
Indeed, the world changed forever on that day.
Now, nearly one year later, Hamas still has innocent hostages captive and we continue to see a rise in antisemitism across the globe and in our own nation.
I am honored to serve as Chairman of the House-Knesset Parliamentary Friendship Group. I am also proud that the group is bipartisan. In July, I traveled to Israel to meet with Speaker of the Knesset Amir Ohana and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
When I was there, I reiterated that the United States House of Representatives continues to stand with Israel. I told Israeli leadership that our nation will ensure that Israel has the resources it needs to defend itself.
I also had the opportunity to visit Kfar Aza, a kibbutz in southern Israel, as well as the site of the Tribe of Nova music festival with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
I got to tell you, it was deeply moving to stand where Hamas invaded, and frankly, just murdered and butchered so many innocent Israelis. When I was there, I met and talked with family members and heard the real-life stories of those who survived, those who are being held captive, and those who were brutally and viciously mutilated and murdered.
I must tell you that I am truly impressed by the resilience of the Israeli people, by their hope, and their strong morale against the barbarism that tries to stifle the will of Israel.
The United States stands unequivocally with our greatest ally in the Middle East, Israel.
Israel fights an enemy that not only seeks the elimination of Israel, but more broadly, the elimination of Western values like freedom, liberty, and democracy.
Prime Minister Netanyahu told us as much when he spoke right here giving an address to a joint session of Congress back in July.
It is so important that we come together and ensure that Israel has the resources and support they need to combat this evil.
We also continue to condemn the blatant and brazen forms of antisemitism that have arisen here, in the United States, and around the world.
Such hatred can't be tolerated in the halls of Congress, nor anywhere else in this country or the world.
This is a matter of good vs. evil and life vs. death.
Israel and the U.S. are committed to defeating Hamas and ensuring all the hostages are returned home.
But we can't stop there, we have got to work together to wipe terrorism off the face of the Earth and we must ensure Israel can live in peace with her neighbors.
Click here to watch his remarks or read them as prepared below:
I rise today to mark the one-year anniversary of Hamas' vicious and horrific attack on Israel.
As we all know, in the early morning of October 7th, Hamas invaded and brutally attacked Israel and her people-murdering over 1200 innocent men, women, and children, including over 35 Americans. These terrorists violently took hostages, including Americans.
In the weeks after the attacks, I watched a 47-minute video taken on October 7th along with other member of Congress. All of us who saw the images and heard the words and the language of that day were horrified. The savagery, barbarism, violence, and pure hatred against Israel and the Jewish people is indescribable in that video.
Indeed, the world changed forever on that day.
Now, nearly one year later, Hamas still has innocent hostages captive and we continue to see a rise in antisemitism across the globe and in our own nation.
I am honored to serve as Chairman of the House-Knesset Parliamentary Friendship Group. I am also proud that the group is bipartisan. In July, I traveled to Israel to meet with Speaker of the Knesset Amir Ohana and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
When I was there, I reiterated that the United States House of Representatives continues to stand with Israel. I told Israeli leadership that our nation will ensure that Israel has the resources it needs to defend itself.
I also had the opportunity to visit Kfar Aza, a kibbutz in southern Israel, as well as the site of the Tribe of Nova music festival with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
I got to tell you, it was deeply moving to stand where Hamas invaded, and frankly, just murdered and butchered so many innocent Israelis. When I was there, I met and talked with family members and heard the real-life stories of those who survived, those who are being held captive, and those who were brutally and viciously mutilated and murdered.
I must tell you that I am truly impressed by the resilience of the Israeli people, by their hope, and their strong morale against the barbarism that tries to stifle the will of Israel.
The United States stands unequivocally with our greatest ally in the Middle East, Israel.
Israel fights an enemy that not only seeks the elimination of Israel, but more broadly, the elimination of Western values like freedom, liberty, and democracy.
Prime Minister Netanyahu told us as much when he spoke right here giving an address to a joint session of Congress back in July.
It is so important that we come together and ensure that Israel has the resources and support they need to combat this evil.
We also continue to condemn the blatant and brazen forms of antisemitism that have arisen here, in the United States, and around the world.
Such hatred can't be tolerated in the halls of Congress, nor anywhere else in this country or the world.
This is a matter of good vs. evil and life vs. death.
Israel and the U.S. are committed to defeating Hamas and ensuring all the hostages are returned home.
But we can't stop there, we have got to work together to wipe terrorism off the face of the Earth and we must ensure Israel can live in peace with her neighbors.
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