(Hartford, CT) – Today, Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) released the following statement on the cease-fire in Gaza:

I welcome the news of a cease-fire and hope that it will take hold tonight. I commend the work of Secretary Clinton in advancing an agreement to end the Hamas rocket attacks against innocent civilians in Israel. With Hamas continuing to expand its terrorist activities, this agreement could not have come soon enough. I stand with Israel in its efforts to stop the ongoing smuggling of Iranian weapons and explosives into Gaza, and believe strongly in Israel’s right to self-defense against attacks on its people.