Rep. Dan Goldman, D-N.Y., was in Israel over the weekend with his family and was forced to shelter from rocket fire in a hotel stairwell until early Sunday morning, a spokesperson for his office said. Goldman and his family have since safely left the country, according to his office.
He is the second U.S. lawmaker known to be in the country when Hamas attacked on Saturday. Earlier on Sunday, Sen. Cory Booker revealed he was in Jerusalem beginning on Friday and was able to safely leave the country on Sunday morning.
“Congressman Goldman, his wife, and three youngest children were in Israel for a family Bar Mitzvah when Hamas brutally attacked Israel on Shabbat and Simchat Torah, one of the holiest Jewish holidays. Congressman Goldman and his family sheltered from Hamas rocket fire in their hotel’s interior stairwell until early Sunday morning, when they were able to safely depart for New York,” his spokesperson Simone Kanter said in a statement. “Congressman Goldman is grateful for the assistance of the State Department and Israeli authorities, and he hopes all Americans can come together to support Israel’s right to defend herself from terrorism and war crimes.”
Goldman will join "Mornings On 1" at 8 a.m. Monday to talk about his experience.