November 29, 2023 Statement from Rep. Underwood on Conflict Between Israel and Hamas
I unequivocally condemn Hamas’s October 7, 2023, terror attacks on Israel. I strongly support Israel’s right to protect its people and hold Hamas accountable, and I call for the immediate safe return of all hostages captured by Hamas. Almost two months after the October 7 attacks, we have finally seen significant progress on the return of some hostages and on delivering humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza, thanks to the temporary ceasefire brokered by the Biden-Harris Administration along with Egypt and Qatar.
With the civilian death rate in Gaza skyrocketing and the lives of hostages still held by Hamas – including American citizens – at risk, it is critical that this current ceasefire be extended. For the protection of children in Israel and Gaza, and for the safety of Jewish and Muslim communities worldwide, I urge Israel and Hamas to commit to a permanent de-escalation of conflict and the urgent prioritization of civilian lives.
My top priority as a Representative has always been to keep my community safe and strong by being their voice in Congress. My constituents are terrified for loved ones in Gaza and Israel, devastated by the disproportionate effects of this violence on children, and worried about our community being targeted here at home. The recent rise in both antisemitism and Islamophobia is unacceptable, and our country has a long and painful history with both. In my district, we are grieving after a six-year-old Palestinian-American boy was killed and his mother was brutally attacked last month because of their Muslim faith, in a crime directly motivated by the ongoing conflict. And Illinois is still mourning the seven lives lost last year in the worst mass shooting in our state’s history, which targeted the historically Jewish neighborhood of Highland Park.
Everyone in our community deserves to feel safe from violence, intimidation, bullying, and fear in their neighborhood, at school, at work, and while exercising their faith. It is clear at this point that further escalation of violence between Hamas and Israel endangers Jewish and Muslim communities across the globe and risks a broader conflict with catastrophic consequences. Hamas and Israel must work towards a lasting ceasefire in order to preserve a future in which permanent peace and security in the region are possible, and the global community must demonstrate support for these efforts and for the humanity and dignity of both Israeli and Palestinian civilians.
As Congress considers legislation on these issues, I am committed to solutions that prioritize America’s security. We must act swiftly to pass the Biden-Harris Administration’s request for supplemental security funding along with other domestic priorities. This funding will be used to deliver aid to Gaza; protect our national security and support our allies in Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan; lower child care costs for working families and grow our middle class; and make sure we have the resources we need to fight natural disasters, climate change, and the opioid crisis.
I encourage the Biden-Harris Administration to continue its efforts to combat hate crimes and bigotry inflamed by this conflict and urge them to use every available resource to do so. Furthermore, I have called on the Administration to take temporary action to protect Palestinians in the U.S. who cannot currently return home safely. Lastly, as a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, I will continue my work to expand and improve FEMA’s Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which provides federal funding to protect community and religious organizations from antisemitic, Islamophobic, and other threats. If your organization in my district is facing these threats and you are interested in applying for funding, my office has resources available here: https://underwood.house.gov/services/grant-applicants.
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