Greenville, NC — Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. issued the following statement on the one-year anniversary of the attacks on October 7th and the escalating threat of a full-scale war in the Middle East.
"Today marks the horrific tragedy of October 7th, 2023 when Israel was brutally and savagely attacked by the Hamas terrorist group," said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. "Since then, Israel has also withstood the attacks of another terrorist group of Hezbollah and, most recently, the terrorist nation of Iran. Regardless of the foe, it has become clear to the world that Israel will not be eliminated. Increasing tensions and regional instability present a threat not just to the Middle East, but to the global community. Tehran's repeated escalation of its war against Israel will be met with great immediate and long term consequences.
"The United States and its allies must remain stalwart in our support of our greatest Middle East ally in this grave time. Peace can only be achieved through strength. Unprovoked aggression must be met with boldness and complete resolve. Until the bloodthirsty terrorists lay down their weapons, they will continue to feel the wrath of the Israel Defense Forces and our supporting coalition will remain ready to defend the innocent."
Timeline of the War - October 7, 2023: Hamas launches attack on Israel killing more than 1,200 people and seizing about 250 hostages.
- October 8, 2023: Hezbollah begins shelling Israel from Lebanon.
- October 11, 2023: Netanyahu forms emergency government.
- October 13, 2023: Israel warns people to evacuate northern Gaza an area with a population of around 1 million.
- October 19, 2023: U.S. Navy warship intercepts missiles and drones launched from Yemen over the Red Sea in the direction of Israel.
- October 21, 2023: Aid trucks begin to enter Gaza through the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Israel.
- October 27, 2023: Israel launches ground offensive in Gaza.
- November 1, 2023: Evacuations from Gaza through the Rafah border crossing for foreign passport-holders, dual nationals and dependents, and individuals needing emergency care begin.
- November 9, 2023: A drone launched from Syrian territory hits Israel, and the next day, the IDF attacks the militia responsible.
- November 21, 2023: Israel and Hamas reaches an agreement to pause fighting for four days to exchange hostages and allow more aid. 105 Israeli hostages and about 240 Palestinian detainees are released.
- December 4, 2023: Israel launches a ground assault in southern Gaza.
- December 22, 2023: The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an Iranian-backed militia, announces it launched a long-range attack on Israel which reports no impact.
- January 2, 2024: IDF eliminates Saleh Arouri, second-in-command of Hamas’s political office, in Beirut.
- February 9, 2024: Netanyahu instructs Israel's military to present plans to the Cabinet for evacuating the civilian population from Rafah and for a military operation that would eliminate Hamas battalions in the city.
- March 13, 2024: IDF says it has plans to move displaced individuals in Rafah.
- April 8, 2024: Netanyahu announces there is a date for Israel's military operation in Rafah, but does not specify it.
- May 6, 2024: Israel orders people in Rafah to evacuate, sending phone messages and dropping leaflets overhead, and launches military offensive.
- June 9, 2024: IDF special operation rescues four hostages in central Gaza.
- July 4, 2024: Hezbollah fires 200 rockets at Israel.
- July 30, 2024: Israel eliminates Ismail Haniyeh, a top political leader of Hamas, in Tehran and Fuad Shukr, a Hezbollah commander responsible for the 1983 Beirut Bombing, in Beirut.
- August 25, 2024: Israel and Hezbollah engage in their biggest exchange of fire since the 34-day war in 2006.
- August 31, 2024: Israeli-American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin found dead.
- September 17, 2024: Hundreds of pagers carried by Hezbollah members in Lebanon blew up nearly simultaneously killing at least 12 individuals.
- September 18, 2024: Handheld radios explode in Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah, killing at least 20 people and wounding 450.
- September 27, 2024: Israel eliminates Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut.
- October 1, 2024: Iran launches at least 180 missiles into Israel.
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