(Radio 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 half dozen Republicans read the document aloud. Representative John Dunwell of Newton read a section of the resolution about Israel’s war aims. “The House of Representatives expresses its support for the State of Israel’s  right to pursue, without interference or condemnation, the elimination of Hamas and any other affiliated terrorist groups until Hamas and all such groups are permanently neutralized and public safety is assured.”

Representative John Wills of Spirit Lake was the resolution’s lead sponsor. “The House of Representatives calls upon Iowa’s state and local law enforcement agencies to remain vigilant in protecting all Israeli Americans and all supporters of the state of Israel from acts of crime and all other unlawful discrimination.”

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 were in the Capitol rotunda earlier today (Thursday), calling for a cease fire in Gaza.