Sen. Cory Booker and Rep. Dan Goldman were forced to cut their trips to Israel short following the Hamas terror attacks Saturday that left hundreds of Israelis dead and thousands more injured.
Mr. Booker’s office said Sunday that the New Jersey Democrat and his staff were in Jerusalem when Hamas launched its unprovoked attacks. They evacuated safely on Sunday.
“We are grateful that Sen. Booker and our colleagues were able to safely depart Israel earlier today,” Booker spokesperson Maya Krishna-Rogers said.
Mr. Booker arrived in Israel Friday for meetings and site visits ahead of a planned speech at the Abraham Accords-focused N7 summit on regional economic integration in Tel Aviv, Ms. Krishna-Rogers said. He and his staff sheltered in place during the attacks.
Mr. Goldman, New York Democrat, was in Israel with his wife and three youngest children for a family bar mitzvah and safely left on Sunday.
“Congressman Goldman and his family sheltered from Hamas rocket fire in their hotel’s interior stairwell until early Sunday morning, when they were able to safely depart for New York,” spokesperson Simone Kanter said.
Israel has officially declared war against Hamas and vowed to retaliate. Saturday’s assault on the country was the worst since the 1973 Yom Kippur War 50 years ago.
U.S. officials fear that Israelis who are American citizens are among the hostages taken by militants.
• Ramsey Touchberry can be reached at rtouchberry@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.