Washington, D.C. — Today, October 10, 2023, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) helped introduce the bipartisan “Operation Swords of Iron” Iron Dome Supplemental Appropriations Act in the House with Representatives Claudia Tenney (NY-24), Brad Schneider (IL-10), and Max Miller (OH-7), to appropriate $2 billion for Israel’s Iron Dome defense system.

Additional original cosponsors include Michael Lawler (R-NY), Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Chris Smith (R-NJ), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Zach Nunn (R-IA), Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Nicholas Langworthy (R-NY), Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), David Kustoff (R-TN), Jim Banks (R-IN), Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), Anthony D’Esposito (R-NY), Tom McClintock (R-CA), and Lance Gooden (R-TX).

The “Operation Swords of Iron” Iron Dome Supplemental Appropriations Act has received widespread support, including from FDD Action, JINSA, and the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA).

This past weekend, on Shabbat and in the shadow of the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, Iranian-backed Hamas terrorists invaded Israel and waged war on the Jewish State. These savage terrorists are kidnapping, torturing, raping, burning alive, and brutally murdering innocent babies, children, women, men, and elderly — including Americans. Hamas continues to fire rockets into Israel. As of Monday, the terrorist attacks have killed more than 1,000 people in Israel, including 14 Americans, and Hamas has taken 150 hostages. 

Gottheimer’s full statement on the war against Israel can be found here.

Bill text can be found here.

“Radical Iranian-backed Hamas terrorists are kidnapping, torturing, raping, burning alive, and brutally murdering innocent babies, children, women, men, and grandparents in Israel — parading their bodies through the streets,” said Congressman Gottheimer (NJ-5). “Rockets continue to rain down on Israel, and sirens blare in population centers like Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, where Israelis fear for their lives in bomb shelters. I will always stand with Israel — the democracy in the region — and support our partner’s right to defend herself from those who seek her destruction. The ‘Operation Swords of Iron’ Iron Dome Appropriations Act is critical to increasing American security assistance for Israel’s missile defense system, which is saving millions of innocent lives. The U.S.-Israel relationship will remain, as it has for decades, ironclad.”

“This week, we’ve seen the full depravity and inhumanity of the Palestinian leadership,” said Congresswoman Tenney (NY-24). “This is not Hamas fighting a war against IDF soldiers; this is Hamas attempting to kill, rape, torture, brutalize, and kidnap as many Jews as possible, particularly civilians! In response to these abhorrent crimes and attacks, Israel announced Operation Swords of Iron, a full-scale mobilization of troops, and a massive ground operation in Gaza. I unequivocally support Israel’s right to self-defense and am introducing the ‘Operation Swords of Iron’ Iron Dome Supplemental Appropriations Act to support Israel’s Iron Dome defense system. Without the critical Iron Dome system, which intercepts Palestinian rockets in the air, many, many more civilians would have been wounded or killed. Additionally, during the 53-day 2014 skirmish with Gaza, Israel’s Iron Dome intercepted approximately 700 rockets. Just in the last few days, Israel’s Iron Dome has intercepted over 3,200 rockets. The United States must stand with our Israeli brothers and sisters and support our strongest ally in the Middle East in its unequivocal right to defend itself and pursue justice for the Israeli and American citizens harmed by Palestinian leadership.” 

“The United States stands in solidarity and strength with our ally Israel as they are attacked by Hamas,” said Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10). “Hamas started this war massacring civilians and terrorizing communities across Israel with wanton rocket fire. Congress now must urgently provide assistance to Israel and Americans abroad. This bipartisan initiative will make sure that Israel has the resources it needs to defeat Hamas, rescue hostages, and protect innocent civilians.”

“Israel has the absolute right to defend itself and its people from terrorists who do not believe it has the right to exist, and it must have the means to do so,” said Congressman Max Miller (OH-7). “Israel has long been our strongest, and only democratic, ally in the Middle East, and the United States must remain steadfast in our support for our great friend.”

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