Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett, President of the Lantos Foundation, released this statement in response to Hamas’ brutal attack on Israel this past weekend:
“As the daughter of the only Holocaust survivor ever to serve in the U.S. Congress, I have watched with horror and revulsion the brutal war that has been launched against Israel and the Jewish people. The savagery and barbarism of the Hamas terrorists has stunned some. For many others, it has merely confirmed what has long been known. Hamas, and its Iranian backers, are explicit in their genocidal intent – namely, to annihilate the Jewish homeland and its citizens. The events of the last days have ripped off the mask. There are no more excuses for any of the apologists for terror or for those who engage in shameful equivocation.
There was no more determined supporter of Israel than my late father, Tom Lantos. He understood in a way that most others cannot what had happened to the Jewish people when they were left to the mercy of others. If he were still with us he would be speaking out with unmatched eloquence on the need for the United States and all democratic nations to stand with unflinching determination by Israel’s side.
From the moment of its establishment, the state of Israel has faced unending threats to its survival, but the war crimes of the past days have been among the darkest in the history of this small but valiant nation. The vicious attacks have not only been an assault on Israel; they are an attack on civilization itself.
The coming days will be extraordinarily difficult and tragic. As Israel strikes back to defend its democracy, its sovereignty and its very survival, there will be further loss of innocent life both in Israel and Gaza. We must be compassionate and clear-eyed about the reality of this war. While Israel makes great efforts to warn and avoid civilians in its attacks, the terrorists target and brutalize civilians. While Israel uses its fighters to protect its citizens, Hamas uses innocent civilians as unwilling human shields to protect its fighters. There is no moral equivalence – both Israelis and Palestinians are victims of this appalling evil. The Palestinian people deserve better. They have suffered too long at the hands of a brutal, corrupt, profoundly hateful regime that tramples on their fundamental rights on a daily basis.
As a memorable quote often attributed to Winston Churchill says, “When you are going through hell, keep going.” There is no way to a better future for Israel and the Palestinians without first confronting the hellscape that has been wrought by the terror of Hamas and its paymaster Iran. Hamas will be defeated because of the courage of the people of Israel and the solidarity of defenders of civilization, decency, and human rights around the world.
Tom Lantos’ words again echo in our ears with greater power than ever: “The veneer of civilization is paper thin. We are its guardians and we can never rest.”