May 12, 2021

Duckworth Statement on Ongoing Violence in Israel

 

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years and is Chair of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) Airland Subcommittee, released the following statement in the midst of ongoing and escalating violence in Israel:

“I fully support Israel’s right to self-defense, condemn the attacks from Hamas terrorists and am sickened by the ongoing, escalating violence in Israel—as well as the Palestinian territories—that needlessly puts the lives of innocent civilians on both sides at risk.

“The eviction of Palestinian families from their homes in East Jerusalem despite the pandemic and ongoing court case, reports of possibly dozens of civilian casualties including children in Gaza and scenes of violent confrontation between Palestinian protestors and Israeli police are heartbreaking.

“Escalations of violence are counterproductive to any conversations about peace in the region and renewed fighting will bring nothing but suffering to Israelis and Palestinians alike. Now is the time for all sides to show restraint before this situation spirals even further out of control, and I urge the Biden Administration to continue to work closely with all parties to bring this conflict to a resolution.”

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