SR0598 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0598 LRB103 35326 MST 65378 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, On October 7, 2023, terrorists launched a horrific assault on the State of Israel from Hamas-controlled Gaza, murdering hundreds of unarmed civilians and kidnapping women, children, and the elderly; and

WHEREAS, The assault commenced as the Jewish people and the diaspora celebrated the holidays of Sukkot and Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah; and

WHEREAS, Hamas terrorists crossed the border into Israel and began targeting unarmed civilians, which included countless incidents of rape, torture, and untold cruelty while killing at least 1,400 people, becoming the largest targeted killing of those of Jewish descent since the Holocaust; and

WHEREAS, Hamas terrorists intentionally targeted unarmed civilians and killed many, including at least 260 people murdered at the Tribe of Nova, an Israeli music festival for peace, in the largest massacre in Israel's history; and

WHEREAS, Hamas terrorists kidnapped at least 240 innocent civilians, including women, children, and infants, from Israel and forced them across the border into Gaza; and

WHEREAS, Illinoisans were victimized in this horrific act, and many Illinois families have been impacted; and

WHEREAS, The attack on Israel was an attack on the world as citizens from multiple countries were victims, including at least 31 American citizens, as well as citizens from Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Thailand, Nepal, Philippines, Germany, Cambodia, Brazil, Paraguay, Russia, Ukraine, Mexico, Ireland, and other nations; and

WHEREAS, In response to these terrorist attacks, the State of Israel declared war on Hamas; and

WHEREAS, Since October 7, 2023, the death toll in Israel and Gaza has continued to rise; and

WHEREAS, The Hamas terrorist attacks were motivated in part to derail peace talks in the region between Israel and other Middle East nations, including Saudi Arabia; and

WHEREAS, Israel, like all sovereign nations, has the right and obligation to protect its citizens from terrorist attacks and hostile foreign powers; and

WHEREAS, These events delay peace, have and will continue to create instability, spur an increase in hostile activity against peaceful citizens, and endanger deployed American civilians, government employees, and military personnel; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we condemn the terrorist attacks by Hamas on the State of Israel, express our deepest sorrow to all innocent people impacted by this terrorist attack and for all the innocent lives lost in Israel and Gaza, call for the safe delivery of humanitarian aid for the region, demand the release of the hostages being held by Hamas, pray for all deployed Americans, and oppose all organizations that use terror as a tactic, victimize innocent civilians, and intentionally undermine peace throughout the world.