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WASHINGTON, D.C— House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) Chairman Rick Crawford (R-AR-01) led the first HPSCI bipartisan Congressional Delegation (CODEL) to Israel following the war against Iran and its proxy Hamas. Chairman Crawford was joined by fellow House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence members, Congressman Ronny Jackson (R-TX-13) and Congressman Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-05).
The purpose of the CODEL was to conduct strategic engagements with key military and intelligence partners in the region and receive operational updates on the ongoing regional conflicts, intelligence community missions, and terrorist and network activities in the region.
The delegation met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee to reiterate the United States’ continued support of its ally, Israel, and its right to defend itself and its citizens in the face of existential threats. The Members also traveled to the border of Israel and the Gaza Strip to tour the aid distribution site, where they were briefed on the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region, perpetuated by the Iranian terrorist proxy, Hamas. While in Israel, the delegation met with the families of the Israeli hostages who have been held in inhumane captivity by Hamas for over 650 days now. Before meeting with these families, the Members toured the Kfar Aza Kibbutz, where Hamas carried out a large-scale terrorist attack on October 7th, killing and taking Israelis and others hostage. Additionally, the Members received an operational update from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on military engagement in Gaza and met with senior Palestinian Authority officials in Ramallah.
“Israel and its people have experienced untold levels of tragedy and devastation because of the very fact that they exist,” said Chairman Crawford. “But the Jewish people are a strong, resilient, and compassionate people. Based on our conversations and briefings with military and intelligence partners this week, it is clear Israel is committed to a peaceful end to the unrest in the region but will not cede any ground to Hamas or other Iranian terrorist proxies. While meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu, Ambassador Huckabee, and other partner organizations, our message was simple—the United States stands with Israel and its people. I am grateful for the ongoing cooperation between the U.S. and our Israeli partners as we work to advance our shared goals in the region.”
“Given the situation, it was extremely important to meet with Prime Minister Netanyahu and other senior Israeli officials, Ambassador Huckabee, and family members of hostages still in Gaza. It was also critical to visit an aid staging location at the Kerem Shalom border crossing and a GHF coordination site, which gave me a better understanding of efforts to surge aid into Gaza. We must ensure aid is able to swiftly reach Gazans in need, not Hamas terrorists, who continue to steal food from innocent Palestinians. With so much misinformation, there is no better way to understand the situation than to see it firsthand. By promoting security and stability in the Middle East, the United States will improve our own national security,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
“This trip not only provided critical firsthand updates from our Defense, State, and Intelligence partners on the ever-evolving elements that threaten Israel, the Middle East, and ultimately the United States, but also reinforced the need for continued strong support to our key ally in the region, Israel," said Congressman Ronny Jackson. "I was honored to spend some time with our GREAT ambassador, Mike Huckabee and also meet with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, who is doing everything he can to bring lasting peace to the region. We need strong leadership and coordination to protect American lives and interests, and I’m proud to see the Trump administration making national security a top priority with a strategy that is tough, smart, and focused on keeping our country and allies safe.”
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