Pat Toomey released the following statement regarding the pro-Hamas flotilla en route to Gaza:
Any loss of life is regrettable, but I fully support Israel’s right to defend itself. Supporters of the Iranian-backed Hamas terrorist group clearly would like to find a way to deliver weapons to Hamas in Gaza. Israel has a right to stop ships to prevent this from happening. Israel offered the ship a port and promised to deliver the humanitarian aid, but militant activists on the ship intentionally provoked a battle instead. Although much of the world community wants to deny it, Israel has a legitimate right to self-defense, and it is exercising that right in the waters near Gaza. I refuse to join the ‘blame Israel first’ crowd. America must stand by its ally in our mutual fight against international terrorism.