Sean Patrick Maloney: “After 8 years of constant missile fire, Israel had to take action against Hamas. Every nation has the right, and I would…”

“After 8 years of constant missile fire, Israel had to take action against Hamas. Every nation has the right, and I would say the duty, to defend its citizens from missile fire. For the last 8 years, more than 10,000 rockets have fallen on Israel's civilian population centers. This reign of terror has killed 28 people and injured more than 700 and traumatized tens of thousands. Any country that remained quiet in the face of such an onslaught would be failing its people and running away from its responsibility to its citizens. Israel had to act. And when Hamas announced that it was ending the so-called lull and began an active campaign against Israel's population centers, Israel had no choice. I say 'so-called' because nearly 400 missiles fell on Israel during that period. Hamas did not allow Israel a single month of peace. I am proud that on Friday, January 9, as one of our first actions of the 111th Congress, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly voted in favor of a strong resolution that places the blame for the situation in Gaza exactly where it belongs, squarely on the shoulders of Hamas.”