‘It is time to eradicate Hamas’: Missouri lawmakers react to Israel-Hamas war
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Federal lawmakers from Missouri have reacted to the violence over the weekend in the Middle East, after Hamas militants launched an attack on Israel and the country declared war.
According to the Associated Press, the combined death toll is more than 1,600, which included American citizens.
For the most part, Congress members from Missouri have shown support for Israel.
“Israel is a very important ally to the United States because it represents democracy in the Mid-East. We have been partners with Israel ever since the days of Harry S Truman and helping the nation of Israel become just that, an independent state. And so we have their backs, we walked shoulder-to-shoulder with them and what we have seen in the past couple of days is a horror not just for Israel, but a horror for the world,” Rep. Mark Alford (R-Missouri, 4th District) told ABC 17 News.
Alford did not mince words when asked what he would like to see the United States response should be.
“It is the greatest murder and slaughter of Jewish people since the Holocaust. I never thought that I would live to see this day in my life,” Alford said. “But it is time to take the gloves off. I'm tired of pussyfooting around with a terrorist. I'm tired of being politically correct. It is time to eradicate Hamas.”
Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-Missouri, 3rd District) offered a similar sentiment on social media and on his website while criticizing President Joe Biden.
"The vicious, unprovoked attack against Israeli civilians is sickening. We stand with our ally as they defend themselves in war against the Hamas terrorists,” Luetkemeyer said on his website. “At a time when the president’s actions have created a worldwide perception of American weakness, we must make it clear these attacks will not be tolerated.”
The vicious, unprovoked attack against Israeli civilians is sickening. We stand with our ally as they defend themselves in war against the Hamas terrorists.
— Blaine Luetkemeyer (@RepBlaine) October 7, 2023
Luetkemeyer was not the only Mid-Missouri Congressman to use the attacks as an opportunity to take a shot at the President.
"Israel, our strongest ally in the Middle East, is under attack by radical Islamic terrorists backed by Iran. Iran just got access to $6 billion from President Biden. Unbelievable. I stand with Israel,” Rep. Sam Graves (R-Missouri, 6th District) wrote on social media over the weekend.
Republican Sen. Josh Hawley added on Twitter that the United States should redirect “any funding for Ukraine” to Israel immediately” in a string of social media post commenting on Palestine.
Israel is facing existential threat. Any funding for Ukraine should be redirected to Israel immediately
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) October 9, 2023
Alford, who serves on the House Armed Services Committee confirmed the United States is sending the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier and fighter jets out of the Whiteman Air Force Base.
“I am all in favor of funding more to replenish their Iron Dome and to make sure that they have the defense capabilities (to) number one: to protect their independent state. But also the equipment and the armaments they need to go out and clean the wound in Gaza,” Alford said.
The US has provided more than $150 billion to Israel since its founding in 1948, according to a 2022 Congressional report. But not everyone has been in support of the U.S. increasing their aid to Israel.
“As part of achieving a just and lasting peace, we must do our part to stop this violence and trauma by ending U.S. government support for Israeli military occupation and apartheid,” Rep. Cori Busch (D-Missouri, 1st District) wrote on her social media on Saturday.
My statement on the ongoing violence in Palestine and Israel ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/NIt9G7aLMI
— Congresswoman Cori Bush (@RepCori) October 8, 2023
The statement has received pushback from both parties.
“Her comment was tone-deaf and at this time after a horrible massacre, it was heartless and frankly beyond reason. Calling for the defunding of a military ally during wartime is just barely any words,” Jordan Kadosh, the Anti-Defamation League Heartland regional director, said.
Kadosh added that he would like to see the Senate take action to help support Israel when asked what type of response he wanted to see from Lawmakers.
“We would like them to fully support the U.S- Israel alliance especially in Israel’s hour of need and in the Senate it would start by confirming an ambassador to Israel and hopefully folks that support U.S Israel relations will call their senators and advocate consent,” he said.
Meanwhile, Alford admitted that the House of Representatives is handicapped in what they can do because they have an interim Speaker of the House after former Speaker Kevin McCarthy was ousted last week.
“Unfortunately, we do not have a Speaker of the House right now. We are a ship without a rudder. We should not have gone home last week and watched football and been with our families. We should have been right here in Washington working to get the next speaker. Nevertheless, we are here today,” Alford said.
“Tomorrow, we have a forum for the two leading candidates (Reps.) Steve Scalise and Jim Jordan. And then on Wednesday, we will vote. We're hoping for a unified vote on this to get to 217 on the House floor. We have to have unity within our party and we must show strength to the nation because of the deficit of a speaker right now. We have basically no power, no power to get briefings.”
