[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 83 (Thursday, May 13, 2021)]
[House]
[Page H2297]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1700
                         ISRAEL-HAMAS CONFLICT

  (Mr. GOTTHEIMER asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as millions of Israeli 
citizens are reeling from a barrage of more than 1,500 rockets fired 
throughout the country by the terrorist group Hamas in Gaza.
  In case there was any confusion, Hamas is a terrorist organization 
designated by the United States, dedicated to the destruction of 
Israel, in which Congress has and must condemn for killing innocent 
civilians and using women and children as human shields.
  No one here should make excuses for a terrorist organization.
  Who is the next target of their sympathy?
  ISIS? Al-Qaida? Hezbollah?
  Even though we may not always agree about Israel's policies, we 
should be very clear that nothing, nothing justifies a terrorist 
organization firing rockets at our ally. And between terrorists and a 
democracy, we should always choose the democracy.
  Our commitment to Israel's security and its right to defend itself 
from terrorists is ironclad. I am glad President Biden, the Secretary 
of State, and the Secretary of Defense have stood with our key 
democratic ally, insisted that Hamas stop firing rockets, and engaged 
regional partners to end this crisis.
  No matter our disagreements, there should be no false equivalences or 
excuses made by anyone on behalf of a foreign terrorist organization.
  As we stand together with our historic ally, Israel, we continue to 
call for an end to the violence and for calm in the region for the sake 
of our children and families and for the sake of peace.

                          ____________________