New Jersey Senator Cory Booker and his staff departed Israel on Sunday, cutting their trip short due to the ongoing attacks by Hamas on Israel. Booker had arrived in Israel on Friday and had planned to stay through at least Tuesday for a scheduled speaking engagement.
However, on Saturday morning, Hamas launched a massive attack on Israel, forcing Booker and his team to shelter in place for their safety. A spokesperson for Booker’s office confirmed that he and his team were in Jerusalem when the attacks began and had to take necessary precautions to ensure their safety.
“We are grateful that Senator Booker and our colleagues were able to safely depart Israel earlier today,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
Booker’s office had planned for several days of meetings and site visits before his scheduled talk at an Abraham Accords-focused N7 summit on regional economic integration in Tel Aviv on Tuesday. However, due to the escalating situation, the Senator had to cut the trip short and return home.
On Friday, Booker arrived in Israel to engage in meetings and site visits ahead of the summit. His scheduled talk on Tuesday was focused on regional economic integration. The purpose of the summit was to discuss and promote economic cooperation between the nations involved in the Abraham Accords – a series of diplomatic agreements signed in 2020 to normalize relations between Israel and several Arab countries.
However, the violent attacks by Hamas have overshadowed the objectives of the summit and sparked concerns about the stability of the region. In a statement released on Saturday, Booker condemned the attacks by Hamas on Israel and expressed his solidarity with the people of Israel and the families who have lost loved ones.
“I emphatically condemn Hamas’ horrific acts of violence, kidnapping and terror targeting Israeli families, children and other civilians in towns and cities across the nation of Israel. I stand with the people of Israel and the families of those who have lost loved ones,” Booker said.
The ongoing violence has resulted in numerous casualties, including innocent civilians. As of Sunday, at least five Israelis and 145 Palestinians have been killed in the attacks. The international community has condemned the violence and called for an immediate ceasefire.
In addition to Booker, several other US officials have visited the region in recent days to meet with Israeli and Palestinian leaders in an effort to de-escalate the situation. President Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken have also been in contact with leaders from both sides, urging for an end to the violence.
As Booker and his team safely return home, the situation in the region remains tense, and a resolution seems uncertain. The US will continue to monitor the situation and work towards finding a peaceful solution to the ongoing conflict.
