WASHINGTON — Dozens of Republican senators are marking the second anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel with a resolution condemning the terror group for unleashing mass carnage.
In addition to condemning Hamas, the resolution reaffirms the Senate’s support for an “outcome that ensures the forever survival of Israel” and calls for the release of all the hostages.
“Two years ago today, I awoke in the Middle East to horrific news — Israel was under attack by Iran-backed Hamas and Americans had been killed and taken hostage,” Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), who led the resolution, told The Post.
“Now that President Trump has restored American leadership on the world stage, I have renewed optimism and will continue to support his peace-through-strength vision, so another October 7 never happens.”
The resolution is co-sponsored by 38 Republicans and Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), an outspoken defender of Israel despite incuring progressive wrath.
The Hamas attack caught Israelis off guard, with terrorists killing around 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages.
Two years later, Hamas is believed to still have 48 hostages, including around 20 who are thought to still be alive and two American citizens.
President Trump has been working to end the war after having laid out a 20-point peace plan last week that Israel agreed to.
In response to a 6 p.m. ET Sunday deadline, Hamas expressed willingness to release remaining hostages, and Trump said over the weekend that “there have been very positive discussions” with the terror organization.
The president further explained that he anticipates the “first phase” of technical negotiations to be ironed out this week. Meetings are underway in Egypt to discuss the release of hostages.
The GOP-backed resolution also underscores that “Israel, like other sovereign states, has a right to defend itself,” and calls for the complete destruction of “Hamas’s ability to reconstitute any leadership role in the region.”
Hamas and Israel held indirect talks through Qatari and Egyptian mediators on Monday as part of an effort to broker peace between Israel and Gaza.
“I really think we’re going to have a deal,” Trump told reporters Monday. “We have a really good chance of making a deal, and it will be a lasting deal.”
