South Florida鈥檚 congressional delegation reacted with anger and condemnation at Hamas militants and expressed their unequivocal support for Israel on Saturday following the unprecedented by Hamas militants who fired thousands of rockets and sent dozens of fighters into Israeli towns near the Gaza Strip.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a televised address said his country is now at war with Hamas and launched airstrikes in Gaza, vowing to inflict an 鈥渦nprecedented price.鈥�
The shadowy leader of Hamas鈥� military wing, Mohammed Deif, said the assault was in response to the 16-year blockade of Gaza, Israeli raids inside West Bank cities over the past year, violence at Al Aqsa 鈥� the disputed Jerusalem holy site sacred to Jews as the Temple Mount 鈥� increasing attacks by settlers on Palestinians and growth of settlements.
In a statement released by the White House, President Biden said: 鈥淭errorism is never justified. Israel has a right to defend itself and its people. The United States warns against any other party hostile to Israel seeking advantage in this situation. My Administration鈥檚 support for Israel鈥檚 security is rock solid and unwavering."
Here's reaction from several South Florida's Senate and House leaders:
Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida
Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, Florida鈥檚 senior senator, said 鈥淚srael was attacked by a Hamas terror group funded & supplied by Iran,鈥� in a post on 鈥淴,鈥� formerly Twitter.
鈥淎nd the continued appeasement of Iran is encouraging these attacks,鈥� he said.
Last month, the Biden administration agreed to the release of nearly $6 billion in frozen Iranian assets owed by a third country, South Korea, as part of controversial deal that allowed five Americans detained for years in Iran to be set free. Iran has been a longtime backer of Hamas, providing money, weapons and training.
Sen. Rick Scott, R-Florida
In a statement Saturday, Republican Sen. Rick Scott, Florida鈥檚 junior senator and former governor, said 鈥淚sraelis are dying today at the hands of Iran-backed terrorists.鈥�
鈥淧resident Joe Biden, and every American ally and partner, must swiftly condemn this invasion and acts of war by Hamas terrorists and the Iranian regime which supports their murderous attacks,鈥� he said.
He, too, slammed Biden for releasing the $6 billion last month to Iran.
鈥淭his is exactly why so many Americans and Israelis were disgusted to see President Biden give the Iranian regime $6 billion last month,鈥� he said. 鈥淓very dollar given to Iran funds terrorism in the Ayatollah鈥檚 quest to destroy Israel.鈥�
He added: 鈥淚ran is behind today鈥檚 invasion and everyone must say that as we stand with our Israeli allies.鈥�
U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D鈭扺eston
Calling Hamas a 鈥渧icious terrorist organization,鈥� U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a Democrat from Weston, said Saturday that 鈥淚srael is at war, not by choice.鈥�
鈥淸It] has every right to defend itself and its people against this barbarous onslaught,鈥� she said in a statement. 鈥淭he United States stands in solidarity with Israel not only during this tragic day but every day.鈥�
She said will work with congressional colleagues and the Biden administration that 鈥渢o ensure Israel has the resources needed to repel these cowardly terrorists and protect its people.鈥�
鈥淎m Yisrael Chai!鈥� she said, meaning 鈥淭he Nation of Israel Lives.鈥�
U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D鈭扨arkland
鈥淭he United States Government must not just stand with Israel. It must supply and resupply Israel with the weapons it needs to crush Hamas,鈥� U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D鈭扨arkland, posted on 鈥淴.鈥�
U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus鈭扢cCormick, D鈭扢iramar
鈥淥ur strongest ally in the Middle East is confronting a heartbreaking and senseless act of terror 鈥� one which has taken innocent lives across the country. It pains me deeply,鈥� U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus鈭扢cCormick, D鈭扢iramar, wrote on 鈥淴.鈥�
鈥淚 condemn this despicable violence in the strongest terms possible and stand with the people of Israel 鈥� today and every day,鈥� she wrote.
Our strongest ally in the Middle East is confronting a heartbreaking and senseless act of terror 鈥� one which has taken innocent lives across the country. It pains me deeply.
— Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (@CongresswomanSC)
U.S. Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R鈭扢iami
鈥淚 stand with Prime Minister & the as they defend their country from an an unprovoked, murderous attack by Hamas terrorists,鈥� wrote U.S. Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R鈭扢iami, on 鈥淴.鈥� 鈥淎merica stands with the democratic, Jewish State of & it鈥檚 right to defend itself.鈥�
Gimenez, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, told Fox News early Saturday that he鈥檚 visited Israeli villages in the Gaza Strip. He expects the conflict to 鈥渢ake a while鈥� but that Israeli military would 鈥渞estore peace.鈥�
U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson, D鈭扢iami Gardens
In a statement, Congresswoman Wilson, a member of the Congressional Israel Allies Caucus and Congressional Democratic Israel Working Group Caucus, condemned the 鈥渦nprovoked and despicable assaults.鈥�
鈥淒emocratic nations worldwide must unite to support Israel, as unity is our strength in the face of united terrorism,鈥� she said.
"Israel stands as the United States' closest friend and ally, and our nation's strength is intertwined with theirs. My prayers are with the people of Israel today, and as Israel prepares for war in these dark hours, the United States stands ready to support Israel's right to defend itself. Our commitment to Israel is unwavering. "
U.S. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, R鈭扢iami
U.S. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, R鈭扢iami, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said she 鈥渨ill do everything possible to help Israel鈥� in a post on 鈥淴.鈥�
鈥淔rom Miami, we stand with Israel,鈥� she said.
