Sen. Katie Britt condemns Iran’s response to Israel attack

Sen. Katie Britt condemns Iran’s response to Israel attack

Echoing prior calls of support for Israel after a surprise attack by a Palestinian militant group, U.S. Sen. Katie Britt condemned the Iranian president’s praise of Hamas.

“Cheering on the slaughter of innocent children, women, and men, while members of his parliament chant ‘Death to Israel’ and ‘Death to America,’” Britt wrote in a post on X, formerly called Twitter, on Sunday morning. “This is not new behavior. It’s why I objected to the Biden Administration allowing Iranian President Raisi on U.S. soil last month.”

A spokesperson from Britt’s office pointed to past instances of the chants, as well as more recent ones over the weekend, reported by news outlets like Reuters and the Associated Press.

More than 1,100 Israelis and Palestinians have been killed since Hamas first launched rockets and gunfire in southern Israel early Saturday morning local time. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war, and the Israeli military ordered a complete siege of the Gaza Strip and the 2.3 million Palestinians who live there, halting any food or supplies and continuing airstrikes. Disputes over who has rights to the land have long preceded this latest conflict between Israel and Palestine.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday that Iranian security officials helped Hamas plan Saturday’s surprise attack.

“While President Biden was agreeing to a $6 billion ransom and allowing Iran’s president to enter our country, the Iranian regime was plotting terrorist attacks that killed innocent children, women, and men — including American citizens,” Britt said in a post on X later on Sunday. “Appeasement invites aggression.”

On Sunday, Iran’s president Ebrahim Raisi congratulated Hamas in its “history-making” fight against Israel, adding that “the Zionist regime and its backers are responsible for jeopardizing regional security and stability and must be held accountable,” Iranian news agency Fars News reported. CNN also reported that Hamas claimed Raisi’s praise in a phone call with the group’s leader.

U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville has reiterated his verbal support of Israel, has pushed back on Iran, similar to Sen. Britt. But his monthslong blocking of military promotions is again facing scrutiny, renewed with the weekend’s conflict.

Other Alabama leaders have spoken out since the surprise attack. Alabama House Minority Leader Rep. Anthony Daniels called Hamas’ actions “terrorism, plain and simple.”

“My heart goes out to the thousands of families whose lives have been shattered by this brutal, cowardly attack,” Daniels said in a statement. “I share their grief and sorrow for all the innocent souls, including children and the elderly, who have been violently killed, injured and kidnapped.”