While a ceasefire has been called after Hamas launched hundreds of rockets into the southern part of Israel from Gaza, members of the Florida congressional delegation continue to champion that country’s right to defend itself against terrorism.
Earlier in the week, retiring U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., the chairwoman of the U.S. House Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, and U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Fla., the ranking Democrat on the subcommittee, insisted the world needs to support Israel during the attacks, the most intense fighting in the area since 2014.
From his perch on the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., sided with Israel in the latest dispute.
“I strongly support Israel’s right as a sovereign nation to defend itself against Hamas and other terrorist groups that attack innocent civilians,” Rubio posted on Twitter on Tuesday.
The American Jewish Committee (AJC) praised Rubio for his “moral clarity and unequivocal support for Israel as it faces unrelenting violence from Hamas” on Tuesday.
Rubio was joined by another member of the Florida delegation in condemning the attacks and backing Israel.
U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel, D-Fla., who sits on the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee and sits with Ros-Lehtinen and Deutch on the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, also weighed in on the situation.
“I stand with the people of Israel and condemn Hamas’ indiscriminate firing of rockets into civilian areas. Israeli families should not have to seek shelter as sirens sound and rockets target their homes, killing and injuring innocent people,” Frankel insisted.
“Israel has every right to defend itself against these terrorist attacks. I’m encouraged by positive reports of a cease-fire and will continue to monitor the situation,” she added.
