Sen. Cory Booker, Rep. Dan Goldberg in Israel during Hamas invasion
Two members of Congress in Israel described the danger and confusion that unfolded during the attack by Hamas –the deadliest attack the country has seen in 50 years.
US Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) arrived in Jerusalem Friday ahead of the N7 summit in Tel Aviv, an economic forum where the senator was scheduled to speak.
A spokesperson for Booker said the senator and his staff “sheltered in place for their safety,” and expressed gratitude that they were able to depart Israel without incident on Sunday.
In a post on the social media website X, the senator said he was jogging in Jerusalem’s Old City when he received an “urgent call” from his chief of staff informing him Israel was under attack.
Booker said he sheltered in place in the “bomb shelter,” which was the stairwells of his hotel, and noted the “frightened faces” of Israelis and Americans hunkering down with him.
Booker said he and his team are “shaken, angered, and heartbroken” by the Hamas terrorist attacks which have left over 700 Israelis dead, thousands wounded, and 100 taken as hostages.
Worst attack on Israel in 50 years: How we got here
2005: Israel unilaterally withdraws from the Gaza Strip over three decades after winning the territory from Egypt in the Six-Day War.
2006: Terrorist group Hamas wins a Palestinian legislative election.
2007: Hamas seizes control of Gaza in a civil war.
2008: Israel launches military offensive against Gaza after Palestinian terrorists fired rockets into the town of Sderot.
2023: Hamas launches the biggest attack on Israel in 50 years.
Over 700 Israelis are dead over 2,150 are wounded and 100 were taken hostage with the death toll expected to rise after Hamas terrorists fired thousands of rockets and sent dozens of militants into Israeli towns.
Hamas terrorists were seen taking female hostages and parading them down the street in horrifying videos.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced “We are at war” and vowed Hamas would pay “a price it has never known.”
Gaza health officials report at least 300 Palestinians have been killed with 2,200 injured.
The New Jersey senator went on to call for a “long-term and just peace in the region.”
Sen. Booker, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, “emphatically” condemned Hamas
“horrific acts of violence, kidnapping and terror targeting Israeli families, children and other civilians.”
Follow along with The Post’s live blog for the latest on Hamas’ attack on Israel
Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY) was also in Israel when Hamas launched its deadly invasion of the Jewish homeland.
The Congressman was in the Jewish homeland for a relative’s Bar Mitzvah with his wife and three youngest children in tow.
The lawmaker and his family sheltered in place inside their hotel’s stairwell as rockets rained down over them, his spokesman said.
The Congressman was able to return to the US safely and expressed his wish that Americans “come together to support Israel’s right to defend herself.”
Rep. Goldman later called for Congress to “replenish — and expand — the Iron Dome as soon as possible,” and called for Republicans to “get their House in order” so emergency legislation could be passed to assist Israel.
Israeli Ambassador to the United States Michael Herzog claimed Hamas has fired over 4,000 rockets into Israel since the war began.
Israel formally declared war against Hamas, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowing to take “mighty vengeance” against the terrorist group.
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