WHEREAS, Hamas was founded with the stated goal of destroying the State of Israel and has been designated by the United States as a Foreign Terrorist Organization; and

WHEREAS, the Hamas terrorist organization launched a brutal, highly organized, and unprecedented attack upon Israel and its citizens in the early morning hours of October 7, 2023; and

WHEREAS, in its attack, Hamas has killed hundreds of innocent civilians and taken hundreds of Israeli children, women, elderly, and infirm civilians hostage; and

WHEREAS, in its attack, Hamas has fired thousands of rockets against Israeli population centers in an attempt to kill untold numbers of innocent civilians; and

WHEREAS, the level of logistical sophistication demonstrated in this Hamas terrorism operation indicates its receipt of support and funding from foreign state sponsors of terror, namely Iran; and

WHEREAS, the timing of this Hamas terrorism operation to coincide with the observance of the Jewish Sabbath and celebration of significant Jewish holidays demonstrates the intent to maximize civilian casualties; and

WHEREAS, Hamas continues to brazenly locate elements of its terrorist infrastructure in civilian population centers using civilians as human shields; now therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that this legislative body hereby

1. Reaffirms its support and unwavering commitment to the welfare, security, and survival of the State of Israel;
2. Recognizes Israel’s right to act decisively and unilaterally in self-defense to protect its citizens and oppose any pressure to enact a ceasefire prematurely before Israel has secured its safety;
3. Expresses its support for Israel’s right to pursue without interference or condemnation the elimination of Hamas and any other affiliated groups until Hamas and all such groups are permanently neutralized, and public safety is assured;
4. Conveys its most heartfelt condolences to all Israeli victims as well as their families and communities;
5. Calls upon this state’s law enforcement agencies to remain vigilant in protecting Israeli Americans, and all supporters of Israel from acts of crime and unlawful discrimination that tend to manifest at such times;
6. Encourages all other American states to likewise condemn Hamas as well as any official body that refuses to recognize Israel’s right to act decisively in self defense to protect its citizens; and
7. Calls upon the United States to provide all assistance as may be required to support Israel in its defense against Hamas and all other terrorist organizations.