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WASHINGTON, D.C.- Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26), Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs of the House Committee on Appropriations, issued the following statement on the one-year anniversary of Hamas' terrorist attack on Israel:
"A year ago today, Israel suffered the deadliest terrorist attack in its 76-year history. The Israel-Hamas war began when Hamas, the evil, Iranian-backed terrorist group, launched an unprovoked and barbaric assault on Israel on October 7, resulting in the massacre of more than 1,200 innocent civilians, including 46 Americans. Hamas also brutally kidnapped 254 hostages, including 12 Americans. Four of those Americans-Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Itay Chen, Judy Weinstein, and Gad Haggai-were murdered by Hamas.
One year later, 97 of the hostages taken on October 7 remain unaccounted for, with four Americans still under Hamas' brutal captivity today.
Since then, we have witnessed a sharp rise in antisemitism. I am gravely concerned about the growing hatred, vitriol, and efforts to delegitimize Israel, from international bodies like the United Nations and the International Criminal Court to institutions across our country, including campuses, businesses, and even within the halls of Congress.
The Biden-Harris administration's reckless and dangerous foreign policy has made America, our troops in the Middle East, and our allies less safe, emboldening anti-American adversaries like the terrorist state of Iran. Last week, Iran launched its largest direct attack on Israel to date, firing nearly 200 missiles.
Instead of unfreezing billions of dollars in Iranian assets and pressuring Israel to cease defending its homeland, the Biden-Harris administration should stand unequivocally with Israel and reinforce sanctions against Iran, the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism.
As Israel defends itself against relentless attacks from Iran's axis of terror-Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis-it is more important than ever that the United States stand firmly with Israel in defeating terrorism, which poses existential threats on all fronts. Iran and its network of proxy terrorist groups pose grave national security risks to America, Israel, and our allies."
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