Iowa House passes resolution supporting Israel as pro-Palestinian protesters shout 'shame'

Iowa House lawmakers passed a resolution Thursday supporting Israel and condemning Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on the country as pro-Palestine protesters watched on from the House gallery, with some shouting "shame" as they filed out of the chamber.

The resolution, which passed the Republican-controlled House by voice vote Thursday morning, affirms the chamber's "support and unwavering commitment to the welfare, security and survival of the state of Israel."

The Oct. 7 attack by Hamas killed more than 1,200 people, while more than 200 more people were taken hostage by Hamas, as the militant group launched rockets at Israel.

Israel's military response in the months since the Hamas attack has killed more than 24,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health, which is controlled by Hamas.

"The House of Representatives recognizes the state of Israel's right to act decisively and unilaterally in self-defense to protect its citizens and oppose any pressure to enact a ceasefire before the state of Israel has secured its safety," the House resolution states.

After filing out of the House gallery with shouts of "stop the genocide" and "free Palestine," the demonstrators marched to the Capitol rotunda, waving signs and chanting "ceasefire now."

The House resolution states that "the level of logistical sophistication demonstrated in the Hamas terrorism operation provides evidence that Hamas received support and funding from foreign state sponsors of terror, namely Iran."

It calls for the United States to provide any assistance required for Israel to defend itself against Hamas and other terrorist organizations. Hamas has been designated by a terrorist organization by the United States.

"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," the resolution states.

House Speaker Pat Grassley, R-New Hartford, told reporters Thursday afternoon that House Republicans wanted to send the message that they stand with Israel.

"Historically and currently we've been very supportive of Israel," he said. "And when it comes to any terrorist organization, we're going to stand with our ally and what we have in Israel."

Grassley said "no one wants to see any level of death and destruction" in Gaza, but he said Iowa and the United States can't ignore an unprovoked attack on an ally.

House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst, D-Windsor Heights, speaking to reporters, wouldn't say how she voted on the resolution.

"It was a voice vote. It was not a record roll-call vote," she said.

Democrats, in Iowa and nationally, have been divided over their responses to the war.

President Joe Biden has asked Congress to pass a military aid package for Israel and resisted calls from progressives to support a ceasefire in Gaza, although he has called for humanitarian pauses in the fighting to allow medical aid to reach the Palestinian people.

Many Democrats have been fiercely critical of Israel's military response to the Hamas attack, while others have reiterated their support for Israel.

In November, Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart called for three student officers with the University of Iowa Democrats to resign over a statement they posted on social media expressing support for Palestine and comparing the fighting in Gaza to genocide. Hart said the statement used an anti-Semitic phrase, while the students who signed the statement said they only intended to support the Palestinian people.

The Iowa State Democrats said they would disaffiliate from the state Democratic party over the incident, but later reversed course and said they would maintain ties with the party.

Iowa Arab American representative calls for ceasefire in Gaza

Shortly after the House vote, Rep. Sami Scheetz, D-Cedar Rapids, held a news conference where he reiterated his call for a ceasefire.

Scheetz, who was elected in 2022 and is serving his first term, is of Syrian and Palestinian descent and is the first Arab American elected to the Iowa Legislature. He has been calling for a ceasefire since mid-October.

"Since Oct 7, when Hamas killed more than 1,200 Israelis in a brutal attack I have condemned all violence against the Israeli and Palestinian people, as well as anti-Semitism and anti-Arab rhetoric and violence," Scheetz said. "At the same time, there is no reason to believe that more violence in Gaza will lead to an end to a conflict which as raged in that region for close to a century."

Scheetz cited the number of Palestinians killed and displaced in Gaza since the Oct. 7 attack, saying "this is not justice that will lead to a lasting peace."

"It has become clear that there is no military solution that will bring stability to Gaza," Scheetz said. "That’s why I voted no on the Republican resolution this morning and continue to call for a ceasefire. I urge President Biden and his administration to apply all pressure at his disposal to urge and end to the bloodshed."

After Scheetz's news conference, Newman Abuissa, chair of the Iowa Democratic Party's Arab American caucus, spoke to demonstrators in the Capitol hallways, condemning Israeli leaders for their handling of the conflict.

"If they want to have resolution to this conflict they have to treat the Palestinians as equal," he said. "They are not the chosen people, they are not superior people, they are equal people like anybody else. Every Palestinian child is equal to every Israeli child, and we know that thousands and thousands and thousands of children are dying."

Asked about Scheetz's call for a ceasefire, Konfrst said all lawmakers have the ability to advocate for what they think needs to happen in Gaza.

"My members have every ability to have a conversation on their own outside of this room of what needs to happen," she said. "But what I’ll tell you is the Israel-Hamas situation will not be solved in the Iowa Legislature and is not really under our purview."

Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at sgrubermil@registermedia.com or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on Twitter at @sgrubermiller.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa House passes pro-Israel resolution as protesters shout 'shame'