AUSTIN — Gov. Greg Abbott and other leaders gathered with the Austin-area Jewish community Monday evening to show solidarity and support for Israel after Hamas launched a shocking wave of terror, targeting civilians and taking hostages.
Over 3,000 members and supporters of the Jewish community gathered at the Dell Jewish Community Campus, Congregation Agudas Achim, to remember those killed in the surprise attack and to stand in solidarity with Israel.
Rabbi Neil Blumofe, the leader of Agudas Achim, explained, “These are some of the gravest days in the history of Israel.”
“These terrors are crimes against humanity,” he continued. “May God protect our brothers and sisters in Israel, and may we all know better days as we strive for peace.”
“We will remain steadfast in our support of Israel, speaking loudly that Israel has a right to defend itself and did not provoke this war despite the narrative that we know is coming,” the rabbi added.
Gov. Abbott told the attendees, “Let me make sure everybody here knows, Texas joins the world in grieving for Israel.”
“The horrific attack on Israel, which must be called what it is, is an act of war to which Israel has the right of self-defense for which there is no expiration date,” he said, eliciting the loud applause of the room.
“Innocent children! Innocent children at a music festival were gunned down. Seniors were slaughtered and kidnapped,” Abbott recounted. “Americans are among the lives lost in this deadly attack.”
“Texas stands with Israel and its right to defend itself against the war criminals who unleashed this mayhem,” he declared, pointing to several measures he has taken to increase security for Jewish Texans and sanction the supporters of the Hamas attacks.
As reported by The Dallas Express, Abbott issued more than $4 million in emergency grant funding to Jewish organizations for increased security and ordered law enforcement to redouble its counter-terrorism efforts. He also issued economic sanctions against the Gaza Strip and any state actor with ties to Hamas.
“To honor all in Israel who have lost their lives during this heinous act of war, including Americans killed in Israel, I ordered that flags are to be lowered to half-staff beginning at sunrise tomorrow,” he added. “Texas will always stand with the people of Israel as well as our Jewish neighbors right here in Texas.”
“May God bless you all in this time of need, and may God continue to bless Israel during these challenging times,” Abbott concluded.
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson, Austin City Council Member Alison Alter, and U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Austin) also shared words of support.
As Israeli forces pushed back the Hamas infiltrations, more scenes of horror were uncovered.
In one kibbutz, a small collective community, more than 100 bodies were found, many of them executed in the street. In another kibbutz close to the Gaza Strip, decapitated babies were discovered.
As reported by The Dallas Express, hundreds of citizens were killed by Hamas militants as they infiltrated Israel. Bodies of women stripped down to their underwear being paraded through the streets of Gaza have left families across the world pleading for the return of their loved ones.
One of the other speakers at the solidarity event was a young Israeli man who described the murder of his grandfather and the kidnapping of other close family members.
However, rallies supporting Palestine and backing the actions of Hamas were held over the weekend in cities around America.
In Dallas, dozens of people waving Palestinian flags cheered for the destruction of Israel, chanting, “There is only one solution, intifada revolution,” and “No peace on stolen land,” as reported by The Dallas Express.
