Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and other members of a congressional delegation sheltered for safety as Hamas attacked Israel on Sunday, the top lawmaker announced.
In a post to X, Schumer shared a photo of himself, Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT), and others hunkering down in a cramped space.
“While in Tel Aviv today, our delegation was rushed to a shelter to wait out rockets sent by Hamas. It shows you what Israelis have to go through. We must provide Israel with the support required to defend itself,” Schumer said.
While in Tel Aviv today, our delegation was rushed to a shelter to wait out rockets sent by Hamas. It shows you what Israelis have to go through. We must provide Israel with the support required to defend itself. pic.twitter.com/wS3kq6xFVJ
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) October 15, 2023
Schumer led a bipartisan group of senators to Israel over the weekend in a show of support one week after Hamas launched deadly terrorist attacks on Israel. Now, Israeli forces are engaged in open warfare against Hamas in Gaza.
Other senators who joined Schumer and Romney on the trip included Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and Bill Cassidy (R-LA). They met with Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog, who thanked the congressional delegation for their support.
This morning I welcomed a bipartisan solidarity delegation of US Senators led by Senate Majority Leader @SenSchumer, along with @SenatorRomney, @SenMarkKelly, @SenJackyRosen, @BillCassidy. They came to stand with the people of Israel and to make clear that when it comes to the… pic.twitter.com/MHScbKng30
— יצחק הרצוג Isaac Herzog (@Isaac_Herzog) October 15, 2023
The congressional delegation is “having good, productive meetings with Israeli leaders,” Schumer said in another post to X. “I’ll lead the effort in the US Senate to provide Israel with the support required to defend itself from this monstrous attack.”
A third post from Schumer said, “In Israel, we met with families of the victims of this brutal attack by Hamas, families who didn’t know if their loved ones were alive, families whose loved ones were taken hostage. Their stories moved us. We stand with Israel. We won’t stop working to bring the hostages home.”
In Israel, we met with families of the victims of this brutal attack by Hamas, families who didn't know if their loved ones were alive, families whose loved ones were taken hostage. Their stories moved us. We stand with Israel. We won't stop working to bring the hostages home. pic.twitter.com/6g7M18fhzW
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) October 15, 2023
At least two other members of Congress — Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY) — took shelter in Israel when Hamas attacked last weekend and have since left the country.
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Officials have reported more than 1,300 people in Israel have been killed in the attacks and roughly 3,200 more injured. At least 27 Americans died in the attacks. Dozens of others are believed to have been taken hostage by Hamas, with U.S. citizens believed to be among them.
In addition to efforts to assist U.S. citizens in fleeing Gaza, officials have been working to help Americans evacuate Israel as its forces fight Hamas and Hezbollah attacks Israel from the Lebanon border.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveled to Israel and other countries in the region to discuss the terrorist attacks and seek ways to avoid escalating the conflict.