Fresno community leaders speak out after war breaks out in Israel

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel.

"This is a terrorist attack, let's be clear, and Israel is at war," said Fresno Congressman, Jim Costa.

The attack was launched from the land, air and sea, and rockets fired from the Gaza Strip.

"The target is civilians, so civilians were heavily targeted today, they are being targeted, they were kidnapped, they were murdered," said Rabbi Rick Winer, with Temple Beth Israel.

Rabbi Winer with Temple Beth Israel says his heart breaks for a place he once called home.

"The pit of my stomach just drops, I've spent a lot of time there, I've lived there for a couple years," said Rabbi Winer.

He says it's been difficult to watch the fighting, as he still knows people overseas.

"A friend of ours was just saying that her husband's family, they can't account for everyone right now," said Winer.

Right now is, Simhat Torah is a Jewish holiday that celebrates and marks the conclusion of the annual cycle of public Torah readings, and the beginning of a new cycle.

"Its a festive good time, and it was the time that they chose to attack, knowing full well that it was on the anniversary of Yom Kippur war and that it was still part of the festival time," said Rabbi Winer.

Congressmen Jim Costa and David Valadao both say its important to stand with Israel right now in the midst of wars already raging in Ukraine and Armenia.

"We must consider additonal military and economic support to defend our long term, long term, ally in the Middle East," said Costa.

"Obviously, we've got to stand with our allies. But even if this wasn't an ally to see this type of devastation and this type of attack is something that we should never stand for in our country," said Hanford Congressman, David Valadao.

Both also adding the house without a speaker right now, puts the United States efforts to respond in a bi-partisan fashion at risk.

"Not having a Speaker. There's not a whole lot we can do. In fact, we're not even sure if the Speaker of the House or the Speaker pro tem, Patrick Mchenry could be part of the gang of 8 briefings," said Congressman Valadao.

"We've got to come together, democracy is at stake, and the turmoil in the house of representatives is not good," said Congressman Costa.

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