Des Moines, Iowa — The Iowa House has passed a resolution supporting Israel’s right to act decisively to eliminate Hamas after the October 7th terror attacks in Israel.
The resolution expressed sympathy and support for the families of Israelis who were killed or taken hostage three months ago. The resolution was not debated and passed on a voice vote after a half dozen Republicans read the document aloud. Representative John Dunwell of Newton read a section of the resolution about Israel’s war aims.
Representative John Wills of Spirit Lake was the resolution’s lead sponsor.
Representative Sami Scheetz, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids, is the first Arab American of Palestinian descent to be elected to the state legislature and he voted no on the resolution. Scheetz says the October 7th attack by Hamas was brutal and should be condemned, but he says there’s no reason to believe more violence, chaos, and destruction will settle a conflict that’s raged for nearly a century. There were about 60 pro-Palestinian protesters in the Capitol Rotunda earlier today (Thursday), calling for a cease-fire in Gaza.
