Sen. Booker departs Israel after sheltering in place amid Hamas attack

Sen. Cory Booker was in Israel on Saturday when Hamas launched its surprise attack on the country, killing scores of people and injuring hundreds more.

The junior senator from New Jersey and his staff sheltered in place in Jerusalem and safely departed from there Sunday, said his spokeswoman, Maya Krishna-Rogers.

Booker, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, arrived in Israel on Friday, and according to a source familiar with his visit, he and the two staffers were to stay there until midweek.

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The source said the group sheltered in a hotel, including in a stairwell, during the bombings.

Booker was scheduled to speak Tuesday at an N7 Initiative summit in Tel Aviv, where world leaders planned to discuss the Abraham Accords.

The declaration was signed three years ago to strengthen peace between Israel and its Middle East neighbors.

'RESOLVE AGAINST TERRORISM': NJ leaders pledge solidarity with Israel amid Hamas surprise attack

“I emphatically condemn Hamas’ horrific acts of violence, kidnapping and terror, targeting families, children, and other civilians in towns and cities across the nation of Israel,” Booker said in a statement. “I stand with the people of Israel and the families of those who lost loved ones.”

News reports said the death toll from the sudden airstrikes surpassed 1,100 and that many others were abducted or wounded.

This weekend’s attack occurred on the 50th anniversary of the start of the Yom Kippur War between Israel and a coalition of Arab states, led by Egypt and Syria.

In that conflict, which lasted for almost three weeks, more than 2,500 Israelis were killed.

Philip DeVencentis is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: devencentis@northjersey.com

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Sen. Booker and staff safely depart Israel after surprise Hamas attack