Is Cory Booker OK? New Jersey Senator had to hide in hotel stairwell as Israel was attacked
TEL AVIV, ISRAEL: Democratic Senator of New Jersey, Cory Booker, who was in Israel on Saturday, October 7, as Hamas launched an attack near the Gaza border, shared his horrifying experience of taking shelter in the hotel stairwell as bombings began. While he is now safe, he is still "shaken" by the attack.
Booker, who is a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was scheduled to deliver a speech on Tuesday, October 10 at the Abraham Accords summit in Tel Aviv, after arriving in the country on Friday, October 6.
The Senator shared that he was “shaken, angered, and heartbroken” by the attack and shared an update on his social media account on X.
What did Cory Booker experience in Israel?
Booker shared his experience in a video message on Sunday as he said he went jogging in the Old City on Saturday when his Chief of Staff called him to ask him to get back to the hotel as soon as possible as Israel was under attack.
Once in the hotel, Booker, with several others, mostly Americans, took shelter at the “bomb-shelters” or the stairwells of the hotel.
He described the motley as “Frightened faces,” with many elderly people and children in the group.
He said, “There was a sense of fear and worry and a knowledge to many of us that there were horrific things going on around the country at that time.”
Booker further wrote in the caption of his video, “I was in Israel when the horrific attacks carried out by Hamas started on Saturday.”
He gave an update, saying, “My team and I are now safe, but like many we are shaken, angered, and heartbroken by the hundreds killed, the thousands injured, those taken hostage, and all who are directly affected by these sickening terrorist attacks.”
Booker pledged his support towards ensuring the security of the country, saying, “After this experience, more than ever, I am committed to working with my colleagues in the Senate to continue supporting Israel’s security and ensuring stability in the region — and I hope one day soon, a long-term and just peace in the region.”
I was in Israel when the horrific attacks carried out by Hamas started on Saturday. My team and I are now safe, but like many we are shaken, angered, and heartbroken by the hundreds killed, the thousands injured, those taken hostage, and all who are directly affected by these… pic.twitter.com/E4BgEZxSTC
— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) October 8, 2023
Where is Cory Booker now?
Booker’s spokesperson Maya Krishna-Rogers said in a statement on Sunday afternoon that the Senator and his team were able to leave Israel safely.
In a statement, she said, “We are grateful that Sen Booker and our colleagues were able to safely depart Israel earlier today," per CBS News.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said several Americans died in the attack
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on 'Face the Nation' on Sunday, "We've got reports that several Americans are among the dead. We're working very actively to verify those reports."
He further added that they are working to verify the numbers saying, "At the same time, the reports of Americans being taken hostage — there too, we're working to get the facts to find out if those reports are accurate."
Many US-based airlines have suspended their operations from the international airport near Tel Aviv temporarily.
Per Daily Beast, Democratic Rep Dan Goldman was also in Israel as he and his family were visiting the country for Bat Mitzvah.
He also had to take shelter in a hotel stairwell during the attacks. He was also safely evacuated from Israel.
His spokesperson Simon Kanter said in a statement, “Congressman Goldman is grateful for the assistance of the State Department and Israeli authorities,” before adding, “He hopes all Americans can come together to support Israel’s right to defend herself from terrorism and war crimes.”