2023 House Resolution 146

Whereas, At dawn on October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a sudden and bloody assault on the people of Israel. This attack came at the end of Sukkot, one day after the 50th anniversary of the start of the Yom Kippur War. Air sirens wailed as thousands of rockets rained down indiscriminately on civilian areas, and armed infiltrators took to the streets. At the Supernova music festival, which was held in southern Israel, just a few miles from the Gaza border, hundreds of attendees were surrounded and massacred. Hamas militants were sent to Israeli towns, where they sought out and executed civilians, including children and the elderly, door by door. An unknown number of civilians has been taken hostage by Hamas, and some have reportedly been transported into Gaza. As of October 9, Hamas is continuing its campaign of violence against Israeli civilians, and it has encouraged other actors to join it in the extermination of Israel; and

Whereas, This horrific conflict has not only affected the people of Israel but people from around the world. The United States government has confirmed that at least 11 Americans have been killed. Other countries reporting confirmed or suspected casualties include the United Kingdom, France, Ukraine, Thailand, Nepal, Cambodia, and Argentina. In addition to the dead, many foreign nationals are missing, and some are known to be among Hamas’s hostages, including a German-Israeli who was attending the Supernova music festival; and

Whereas, Israel has taken steps to defend its people against this terrorist threat. A few hours after the first airstrikes, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared “Israel is at war,” making it clear that this is not just another bout of fighting between these historic adversaries. Israel has commenced a “complete siege” on Gaza and mobilized 300,000 reserve troops to aid in the nation’s defense; and

Whereas, Michigan and Israel share long-standing cultural ties and a lengthy history of cooperation and partnership. Michigan has had a significant Jewish population since the turn of the 20th century, with over 85,000 Jews residing in the state today, largely concentrated in Metro Detroit. Around 2,500 Israelis call Michigan home. Both private organizations and the state have encouraged Israeli businesses to invest in Michigan, and Michigan’s universities have received millions of dollars in grants from bilateral U.S.-Israeli programs to fund agricultural and scientific research; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we condemn the acts of terror perpetrated by Hamas against Israel beginning October 7, 2023; and be it further

Resolved, That we urge Hamas to release all hostages taken during these barbaric actions; and be it further

Resolved, That we support Israel’s right to self-defense; and be it further

Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the members of the Michigan congressional delegation, the Israeli Ambassador to the United States, and the United States Chargé d’affaires for Israel.