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SALT LAKE CITY — Utah's House congressional delegation issued a joint statement Friday expressing solidarity with Israel and a commitment to support its efforts to defend itself against future attacks.
Reps. Blake Moore, of Utah's 1st Congressional District, John Curtis, of the state's 3rd District, and Burgess Owens, of the state's 4th, recently joined over 400 members of the U.S. House of Representatives in signing a bipartisan resolution to condemn the brutal attacks carried out by Hamas terrorists against Israeli civilians on Oct. 7 and to promise "security, diplomatic and intelligence support."
"The past few days have been heart-wrenching for Israel and the global Jewish community," Curtis said in the joint statement. "Israel has my unwavering support. I stand behind this bipartisan resolution, the Jewish state in its inherent right to defend itself and protect its citizens."
As of Thursday, government officials estimated the number of Israelis killed by Hamas was at least 1,300, with more than 3,000 injured, and around 150 people, including children and grandparents, kidnapped and taken to Gaza as hostages, making Oct. 7 the deadliest day in Israel's history.
U.S. authorities confirmed Tuesday that 27 American citizens were killed in the attack and 14 are missing, possibly taken as hostages.
"The United States unequivocally stands with our ally, Israel, as they defend themselves against Hamas' unprovoked, indiscriminate and grotesque massacre of innocent civilians, including 27 Americans and counting," Owens said in the statement.
"There is no justification for murdering and beheading babies, raping innocent civilians, and kidnapping women, children and grandparents. As we witness true evil, it's more important than ever to stand with Israel, reject antisemitism and condemn these horrific atrocities," Owens said.
On Sunday, Israel formally declared war against Hamas. Over 1,500 Palestinians have been killed since Israeli airstrikes targeting Hamas strongholds began, according to the interior ministry of Gaza. According to Israeli reports, Hamas often hides, stores weapons in and fires rockets from locations with dense populations of civilians, including hospitals, mosques and schools.
The bipartisan resolution, which has not been brought to a floor vote because House Republicans have been unable to unite around a new speaker, calls out Iran for funding Hamas' activities and "urges for full enforcement of United States sanctions against Iran to prevent Iran's funding of terrorist groups."
"Families and communities throughout Israel have been torn apart at the hands of Hamas," Moore said in the joint statement with Curtis and Owens. "I am proud to join this bipartisan resolution condemning the brutal and barbaric actions of Hamas and supporting Israel's right to defend its people. We must do all we can to help Israel, one of our greatest allies."
Moore said in a previous interview with the Deseret News that once the House has a speaker, hopefully sometime next week, the first order of business should be to pass an aid package that includes humanitarian relief and armaments to replenish Israel's missile defense system.
