Josh Gottheimer: “I thank Ms. Wasserman Schultz for this Special Order. I rise tonight, Mr. Speaker, because, on October 7, Hamas…”

“I thank Ms. Wasserman Schultz for this Special Order. I rise tonight, Mr. Speaker, because, on October 7, Hamas terrorists attacked Israel and abducted more than 230 people, including many Americans. Hamas brutally murdered, raped, burned alive, and decapitated more than 1,000 innocent babies, children, women, men, and the elderly. It was the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust. Mr. Speaker, 40 American citizens were slaughtered by Hamas, and 9 have been living in horrifying fear at the hands of terrorists for more than 50 days. It blows my mind that this isn't talked about every single day in this country, that Americans were killed and Americans remain hostages. Hamas killed Americans, and terrorists still hold American hostages inside Gaza. That should be the beginning and end of the argument of why we must crush and kill Hamas. Thankfully, because of President Biden's resolve and strong leadership, groups of hostages have been rescued, including 4-year-old Avigail, an American citizen. Nevertheless, as of today, there are still 160 hostages. One of the eight American hostages is Edan Alexander, a 19-year-old from Tenafly in my district in northern New Jersey. You can see him in this photo that was shared with me by his family, his mom. I have spent time with his family. They are phenomenal people and just such wonderful, warm people. His sister is at Tenafly High School.…”