REP. ELIOT ENGEL ON ISRAEL'S SELF-DEFENSE IN THE GAZA STRIP

Wednesday December 31, 2008 Jeremy Tomasulo
Rep. Eliot L. Engel on Israel’s Self-Defense in the Gaza Strip

Washington, D.C.--“I stand firmly with Israel as it exercises its right of self-defense against the terrorist group, Hamas. Israel has done everything it could to avert war in the face of a constant rocket barrage from the Hamas terrorists in Gaza. It was Hamas that ended the six-month ceasefire after Israel urged that it continue. It was Hamas that ignored Israel’s warnings that the continued rocket assault would bring a response. Approximately 3,000 rockets and mortars landed on southern Israel this year alone.  The world must stand with Israel as it rightfully acts to protect the security of its citizens against the Gaza-based terrorists. Israel is legitimately defending its people and its sovereignty.”

Facts:
  • In the last eight years, more than 10,000 rockets and mortars have been fired at Israel from Gaza. 
  • Israel unilaterally withdrew from Gaza in September 2005.
  • Since Hamas’ violent takeover of Gaza in June 2007, the frequency of rocket attacks rose 150% to more than 250 rockets and mortars per month.
  • In 2008 alone, approximately 3,000 rockets and mortars of increasing range have been launched at southern Israeli cities.
  • Arab leaders, including Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit, urged Hamas to continue the ceasefire and have blamed Hamas for instigating the crisis. 
Rep. Eliot L. Engel is a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and a member of the Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia. In 2008, he was the lead Democratic sponsor of a resolution condemning Palestinian rocket attacks on Israeli civilians by Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist organizations which passed the House of Representatives on March 5, 2008 by a vote of 404-1.

###