Senator Cory Booker, a Democrat from New Jersey, was in Israel for the Abraham Accords summit when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Saturday, October 7, 2023. The senator was out for a run in Jerusalem’s Old City when he received a call from his chief of staff, advising him to return to his hotel immediately. He said he saw thousands of rockets being launched from Gaza, targeting various cities in Israel.
Booker took shelter in a hotel bomb shelter along with other guests, including many Americans. He said he witnessed the fear and worry on the faces of the people, especially the children and the elderly. He also said he was aware of the horrific things happening around the country then.
Booker posted a video on X, formerly Twitter, expressing his emotions
Booker posted a video on X, formerly Twitter, on Saturday evening, expressing his emotions after the harrowing experience. He said he and his team were safe, but they were shaken, angered, and heartbroken by the hundreds killed, the thousands injured, those taken hostage, and all who were directly affected by the “sickening terrorist attacks”.
He condemned Hamas for its indiscriminate and brutal attacks on innocent civilians and called for an immediate end to the violence. He also expressed his solidarity with Israel and its right to defend itself from the aggression.
He said he hoped that the United States and his colleagues in Congress would work to ensure stability in the region and a long-term peace process. He said he was committed to supporting Israel’s security and working for a just solution for both Israelis and Palestinians.
Booker left Israel early due to the war
Booker was one of at least two members of Congress who were in Israel when the Hamas attack began. The other was Representative Dan Goldman, a Democrat from New York, who was there for a bar mitzvah with his wife and three children. Both Booker and Goldman left Israel early due to the war.
Booker was scheduled to speak at the Abraham Accords summit in Tel Aviv on Tuesday, October 10, 2023. The summit was organized to celebrate the historic peace agreements between Israel and several Arab countries that were signed in 2020 and 2021. However, the summit was postponed indefinitely due to the escalation of the conflict.
The war between Israel and Hamas has claimed more than 1,100 lives so far, mostly in Gaza. The Israeli military has launched airstrikes and ground operations against Hamas targets in Gaza, while Hamas has fired thousands of rockets at Israeli cities. The international community has called for an urgent ceasefire and a diplomatic solution to end the bloodshed.
