Ted Budd: “the world is still reeling from Hamas's brutal massacre of more than 1,400 Israelis and 33 Americans on October 7.…”

“the world is still reeling from Hamas's brutal massacre of more than 1,400 Israelis and 33 Americans on October 7. Israel is completely justified in their response to the worst attack on their nation since the Yom Kippur War 50 years ago. Israel's ultimate goal is and it rightly should be the destruction of Hamas. The United States must stand shoulder to shoulder with Israel and support this goal with lethal aid and intelligence support. In the coming weeks, Congress will consider the President's request for emergency national security funding that is aimed at doing just that. Beyond debating the specifics of how much or what type of aid we send, I believe now is the time to rethink U.S. policy when it comes to the Hamas government and Gaza. Beginning with their founding charter, the ideology of Hamas is motivated by anti-Semitism and genocidal--that is right, genocidal-- intentions towards the Jewish people. In fact, the Hebrew word ``hamas'' means ``violence.'' Since Hamas took power in the Gaza Strip in 2006, they have continued this violence and terrorism against Israel and their allies. Hamas employs murder, rape, torture, and unspeakable brutality against the Jewish people. Hamas even fires rockets indiscriminately towards Israeli civilians, many of which misfire and land, killing people in their own Gaza, innocent Palestinians.…”