House Democratic lawmaker sheltered from rocket fire in Israel hotel: spokesperson 

Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) and his family were forced to shelter in a hotel in Israel over the weekend while visiting family amid a barrage of rocket attacks launched by Hamas.

Goldman along with his wife and three kids were in Israel for a family Bar Mitzvah when Hamas launched an unexpected barrage of attacks from land, sea and air, Goldman’s spokesperson said in a statement Sunday.

Goldman’s family sheltered in a stairwell inside of a hotel until early Sunday morning, when they departed for New York, according to his office.

Noting Goldman is “grateful” for the assistance of the State Department and Israeli authorities, his office said the New York Democrat hopes “all Americans can come together to support Israel’s right to defend herself from terrorism and war crimes.” 

Hamas launched the largest attack on Israel in decades early Saturday, sending forces into multiple Israeli towns, along with a bombardment of rocket fire in a surprise offensive.

The death toll has surpassed 1,100, with thousands more Israelis and Palestinians wounded.

Early Sunday, Goldman called for the replenishment and expansion of the Iron Dome, Israel’s air missile defense system that can defend against short-range rockets and intercept them in the air above the state.

“I hope Republicans can get their House in order so we can pass emergency legislation to assist Israel in defending herself,” Goldman wrote in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, in reference to the upcoming race to replace former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who was ousted from the top spot in a historic vote last week.

Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and his staff were also in Israel during the attacks, prompting the senator to shelter in place in Jerusalem on Saturday.

A spokesperson for Booker’s office said the New Jersey Democrat departed Israel on Sunday, cutting his trip short in the wake of the violence. Booker arrived in the country last Friday and had plans to stay through at least Tuesday, when he had a scheduled talk about regional economic integration, his spokesperson said.