House approves pro-Israel resolution after electing new speaker

The House of Representatives on Wednesday approved a resolution supporting Israel against the terrorist group Hamas in its first act since electing Louisiana GOP Rep. Mike Johnson as the new House speaker.

The lower chamber approved the resolution in a 412-10-6 vote, The Hill reported. The resolution affirmed Israel's right to self-defense and condemned the Oct. 7 Hamas raid that saw its forces take roughly 200 hostages and kill more than 1,000 civilians.

The chamber further called on Hamas "to immediately cease these violent attacks and safely release all living hostages and return the bodies of deceased hostages."

Of the ten lawmakers opposed to the resolution, all but one were Democrats. Kentucky GOP Rep. Thomas Massie opposed the measure, contending ahead of the vote that its call for sanctions was a "prelude to war." A further six Democrats voted "present."

Republicans celebrated the vote after the resolution's passage. Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik stated on X that "In the People’s House, we stand unequivocally with our great ally Israel."

"It is fitting that our first action after electing [Mike Johnson] as Speaker is to pass a resolution reaffirming our support for Israel's right to defend itself against the barbaric war launched by Iranian backed Hamas," she added.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.