US politicians slam Islamic Jihad for rockets
‘The US condemns the barrage of rockets on civilians’
Dozens of US lawmakers, senior elected officials and other political figures from both sides of the aisle condemned Palestinian Islamic Jihad for launching hundreds of rockets from Gaza into Israel on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Vice President Mike Pence tweeted that the US is standing by Israel.
“The United States condemns the barrage of rockets on Israeli civilians,” Pence tweeted. “It’s clear Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad put violence ahead of bettering the lives of the people of Gaza. America strongly affirms Israel’s right to defend itself.”
“Israel has a right to defend itself against terrorist threats,” said former vice president and Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden. “It is intolerable that Israeli civilians live their lives under the constant fear of rocket attacks. That’s why our administration was such a strong supporter of Israel’s life-saving Iron Dome.”
Rep. Jerry Nadler, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said that Israel has a right to protect its citizens and defend itself, and called on the world to condemn acts of terror. Similarly, Rep. Ted Deutch, chairman of the House Ethics Committee, tweeted that “this indiscriminate rocket fire against civilians must be condemned.”
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) accused Islamic Jihad’s Bahaa Abu al-Ata and others like him of advancing “their antisemitic goal of eradicating Israel. Palestinian terrorists commit the double war crime of firing rockets at civilians from behind human shields. Last year, my bipartisan bill imposing sanctions on terrorists for using human shields became law, and I will work to ensure that those who do so are held accountable.”
Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) tweeted, saying, “We stand with our ally Israel as innocent civilians are being targeted by indiscriminate rocket attacks. This uptick in attacks on civilians is deeply concerning, and we must support Israel in defending itself.”
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Florida) shared a video of Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon, and tweeted that “the U.S. will continue to stand strong with Israel and its right to self-defense, and the international community must have the courage to speak out against these attacks.”
“Israel has a right to defend itself against terrorist attacks,” added Sen. Jacky Rosen of Nevada. “In this difficult time, I stand with Israel and the Israeli people and call for continued bipartisan support for the US-Israel relationship.”
HOUSE MINORITY Whip Steve Scalise said that the terrorist group’s rocket attacks “threaten innocent lives in Israel. These terrorists – who use human shields – also threaten innocent lives in Gaza. The United States will always support Israel’s right to defend itself.” And Rep. Max Rose called Islamic Jihad’s actions “cowardly,” adding that he would “pray for de-escalation so that Israelis and Gazans can live in peace.”
Reiterating her support of Israel, Rep. Nita Lowey tweeted, “Islamic Jihad’s indiscriminate bombing of Israeli communities has harmed civilians and continues to risk lives. I am proud to stand with Israel and fully support its right to protect itself against these undiscriminating attacks.”
“Israel has a sovereign right to defend her citizens from indiscriminate terrorist attacks,” Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz tweeted. “She experienced 100+ rockets launched at civilians today. I just led a bipartisan Israel trip w/ Congresswomen to deliver a commitment to Israel’s safety & security.”
Organizations also condemned the rockets, including the US mission to the UN and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).
AIPAC shared a photo of Israeli children ducking on their school bus during an air raid siren and tweeted: “These children were on their way to school when Palestinian terrorists in Gaza started launching rockets into Israel, deliberately targeting Israeli citizens. Kids should be learning math & science, not how to cover their head on a school bus to protect themselves from rockets.”
J Street, the Jewish progressive group, released a statement saying that the organization is “deeply concerned by the latest escalation between extremist terrorists in Gaza and Israel, in which the terrorist group Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) has launched a barrage of rocket attacks against Israel following an IDF operation that killed a senior PIJ leader.
“We strongly condemn these rocket attacks on Israeli civilians,” J Street added. “At this time, our thoughts are with the residents of southern and central Israel, with the IDF forces working to keep them safe and with all civilians on both sides of the divide. We support Israel’s right to defend itself against acts of terror. We also urge Israeli and Palestinian leaders and the international community to take all possible steps to prevent a further escalation of armed conflict.”