Sen. Katie Britt to visit war-torn Israel as part of Senate delegation

Sen. Katie Britt to visit war-torn Israel as part of Senate delegation

Alabama Sen. Katie Britt is part of an eight-member Senate delegation that will leaving Washington Thursday night for a trip to Israel, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

Britt, who took office in January, is the only freshman in the Senate included in the delegation.

The trip comes after President Joe Biden visited Israel earlier this week in the aftermath of the start of a war launched by Hamas.

Other senators on the trip are Democrats Cory Booker, Jack Reed, Richard Blumenthal and Chris Coons and Republicans Lindsey Graham, John Thune and Susan Collins.

Andrew Desiderio of Punchbowl News, who posted on X the names of senators making the trip, said the group will meet with Secretary of State Antony Blinken before departing. Blinken was meeting with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell earlier Thursday, according to Desiderio.

Britt’s office did not immediately confirm that she will be part of the delegation.

Britt has been outspoken in her support of Israel.

“When we see what’s happening in Israel, y’all it is pure evil,” Britt said at a press conference earlier this week. “You can’t look at it as a parent, as an American, just as a person, and not be able to say that. It’s not only disheartening, it’s not only gut-wrenching, it is – without a doubt – evil. I believe as Americans, we must look evil in the eye and take it down.

“We must stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Israel as they eradicate Hamas terrorists. These terrorists don’t care — they don’t care how many men they kill, how many women they rape, how many children they kidnap. If you haven’t watched the video of the children, the toddlers, the babies being held by terrorists, them using them as human shields – go watch it. If you haven’t listened to the reporters tell about walking into the places where these atrocities happened, then giving their recounting of what they saw, what it felt like – go watch it.”

Britt also called for the Biden administration to apply economic strangleholds to Hamas and their allies in the war against Israel.

“We cannot turn a blind eye to evil,” Britt said. “We must stand firm with Israel, and I am hopeful that the Biden Administration will do much more than just refreezing the $6 billion that is headed to Iran. We know what to do. We’ve got to squeeze out any type of financial resources they’re getting through that. Through also working with our G7 colleagues, to make sure that we return to a posture of maximum pressure, bone-crushing sanctions drying up each and every dollar that is headed to their hands.

“We know that Iran is the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorists. We know that. We know, they have told us that their goal is to wipe Israel off the face of this earth. We need our leaders to stand firm and [holding] them accountable. And then knowing that Hamas not only wants to wipe out Israel, but has said that they want to wipe out the Jewish people. To all of the people here in America, to those suffering and hurting in Israel, we want you to know we stand with you and we stand ready to do everything possible to not only hold these people accountable, but ensure your safety and prosperity moving forward.”