New York Democrat Rep. Jamaal Bowman, a member of the group of House progressives known as "The Squad," took to social media Saturday to call for an end to the Gaza blockade and condemn the Iranian-backed Hamas terrorist attack on Israel.

"I strongly condemn the horrific attacks by Hamas and am saddened by the loss of precious lives, especially on the holy day of Simchat Torah," Bowman said in a statement, which was shared to social media.

"We need a way to end this deadly violence that is killing and traumatizing generations of Israelis and Palestinians alike — including the blockade of Gaza," he added. "I have been to the Gaza border and know that Israelis and Palestinians are constantly living in fear. We must work harder to ensure peace in the region."

As new developments are made, Bowman, who made headlines recently after he pulled a fire alarm in Congress amid a vote to keep government open, said he and his team will be monitoring the situation closely, "especially since several of our Westchester service members are in the area of attacks."

AT LEAST 100 DEAD AS HAMAS LAUNCHES UNPRECEDENTED ATTACK ON ISRAEL, NETANYAHU SAYS NATION IS 'AT WAR'

Bowman has been criticized for his position toward Israel, and was one of nine progressives who voted against a resolution affirming Israel was not a racist or apartheid state earlier this year.

In recent weeks there have been protests in Gaza backed by Hamas against economic blockade of the region, which leaders described as aggressive.

"If there's to be an explosion, let it be against the party that created these conditions, which is the (Israeli) occupation," senior Hamas official Bassem Naim said earlier this wee, Reuters reported.

Iranian-backed Hamas terrorists invaded areas of southern Israel as rocket barrages launched from the Gaza Strip struck the area on Saturday, killing over 200 Israelis. 

A senior Hamas military commander, Mohammad Deif, announced the start of the operation in which he called on Palestinians everywhere to attack the Israelis, saying in a broadcast on Hamas media that the group launched 5,000 rockets. He called the attack "the day of the greatest battle to end the last occupation on earth."

Local Israeli media reported that at least 100 people have been killed in the wide-ranging assault, while Gaza health officials say that 198 Palestinians have died in Israeli air strikes made in response to the Hamas attack. Hospitals are treating at least 985 wounded people, including 77 who were in critical condition, the Associated Press reported based on public statements and calls to hospitals.

The IDF announced it would mobilize its forces in response to the attacks, confirming that Hamas has taken hostages and held prisoners of war in Gaza. Israeli military forces have moved troops to the Gaza border, where gunfire has already started as the forces move towards each other, Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst reported from Israel.

ABSENCE OF HOUSE SPEAKER COULD HAVE SERIOUS IMPACT ON US HANDLING OF TERROR ATTACKS IN ISRAEL

In a video message early Saturday morning, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, "Citizens of Israel, we are at war — not in an operation, not in rounds — at war."

Ambulance crews responded to areas around the Gaza Strip, and sirens sounded across Israel. Soroka Medical Center in Beer Sheva, the largest town in southern Israel, is treating 140 wounded, including 20 in serious and critical condition. Some of these wounded people are civilians. Another hospital in Ashkelon is treating 94 victims wounded in various conditions.

According to Israeli media, gunmen opened fire on passersby in the southern Israeli town of Sderot, and footage of the fighting appeared to show attacks in city streets: "A number of terrorists have infiltrated into Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip," the Israeli military said in a statement.

Residents in the area surrounding the Gaza Strip are urged to remain in their homes.

The Gaza Strip is a 140-square-mile piece of land occupied by Palestinians bordering the Mediterranean Sea between Egypt and Israel. The area has been a focal point of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and has been on the global radar for decades.

The land was occupied by Egypt until Israel took it over during 1967's Six-Day War. The first intifada, or uprising, was sparked on December 9, 1987, in Gaza when an Israeli truck ran into and killed four Palestinians.

Fox News' Landon Mion, Chris Pandolfo, and Peter Aitken contributed to this report.

Sabbath tranquility in Israel was ruptured on Oct. 7, marking the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War and 43 years to the day that Egypt’s president Anwar Sadat was assassinated by Muslim Brotherhood terrorists. 

Early on Saturday morning Hamas unleashed a barrage of rockets upon Israel, reaching as far as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. 

This audacious attack shines a glaring spotlight on the failures of the Biden administration’s foreign policy, the unholy alliance between Iran and Hamas, and the global implications that reach as far as Beijing. 

AT LEAST 100 DEAD AS HAMAS LAUNCHES UNPRECEDENTED ATTACK ON ISRAEL, NETANYAHU SAYS NATION IS 'AT WAR'

Let’s look at all the pieces on the global chessboard and what it means for the U.S. under Biden’s leadership going forward.

The Unholy Alliance: Iran and Hamas

Iran's support for Hamas is not a secret. What’s alarming is the extent to which this alliance has been fueled by the Biden administration’s billions in aid to Iran. Despite the theological divide between Iran’s Shiite theocracy and Hamas’ radical Sunni ideology, their common goal of annihilating Israel unites them. 

Look for Iran to bring in its most powerful proxy in the region, Lebanon’s Hezbollah, with an arsenal of some 100,000 rockets aimed at Israel. 

The Hostage Crisis: A Calculated Move

Hamas has escalated the conflict by taking Israeli hostages, likely confined in fortified bunkers. Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu has responded with full military mobilization. The recovery of these hostages will be a long, costly endeavor, potentially involving thousands of casualties.

The Palestinian Power Vacuum: West Bank in the Balance

As if the situation weren't volatile enough, Hamas is likely making a play to unseat the geriatric Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas. Should it succeed, a new front will open in the historic Jewish lands of Judea and Samaria, complicating Israel’s military calculus.

ISRAELI PM NETANYAHU DECLARES 'WAR AFTER HAMAS TERRORISTS LAUNCH MASSIVE ATTACK: LIVE UPDATES

The "Proportionality" Trap: International Scrutiny

Israel, while defending its very existence, will be subject to calls for "proportional" response from the international community. It’s a twisted irony that Israel is expected to moderate its self-defense while under indiscriminate attack.

Biden’s Track Record: A Litany of Failures

The Biden administration’s foreign policy failures have had a profound impact since the president took office. From the disastrous withdrawal from Kabul to the lack of deterrence against Russian aggression in Ukraine, the U.S. has displayed glaring weaknesses. Adding insult to injury, recent reports suggest that Iran has successfully placed agents of influence within the Biden administration. This is not just a breach of national security; it’s a chilling testament to the level of Tehran’s ambitions and a direct contributor to the emboldening of Iran and its proxies like Hamas.

The Saving Grace: The Abraham Accords

Israel finds itself in a precarious situation, but it would be in even greater difficulty were it not for the Abraham Accords. Orchestrated by the Trump administration, this visionary diplomatic effort normalized relations between Israel and several Muslim nations, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco. 

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These agreements have created a strategic realignment in the region, providing Israel with a broader coalition of nations that share an interest in curbing Iranian aggression and fostering stability. While the Abraham Accords may not directly mitigate the immediate crisis, they offer a long-term framework that isolates malign actors like Iran and Hamas, giving Israel strategic depth and diplomatic leverage it didn’t have before.

Beijing Watches: The Taiwan Connection

As the crisis unfolds, Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping is observing America's response closely. Any sign of American indecisiveness or weakness will be analyzed as a factor in China’s own geopolitical calculations, particularly concerning Taiwan. In a world increasingly defined by great power competition, how America responds to the Israel-Hamas crisis will resonate far beyond the Middle East.

The Road Ahead: High Stakes, Higher Costs

Israel faces a grueling struggle ahead, fighting on multiple fronts while facing international scrutiny. 

Hamas, emboldened by Iranian support and American weakness, will continue its assaults. The potential collapse of the Palestinian Authority adds yet another layer of complexity.

In this global chessboard of high stakes, the ripples of weak leadership can spread, affecting alliances, emboldening enemies, and altering the geopolitical landscape.

America must urgently recalibrate its foreign policy, purge its administration of foreign influence, and stand firmly with its allies. 

If it fails to do so, the consequences will reverberate far beyond the borders of Israel, impacting the power dynamics of a world already teetering on the edge.

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