Susan Johnson

The world is in shock after the senseless tragedy in Israel. I offer the strongest possible condemnation of Hamas' attack on Israel. This attack has instantly and irrevocably caused unimaginable human tragedy including the deaths of at least 11 American citizens. We stand with Israel and the Jewish community across Connecticut, America, and the world.

Given the outbreak of war in Israel, I want to share the available resources below, which are passed along from U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut to help any families in need.

Sen. Murphy is the Chair of the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on the Middle East. He and his staff are in regular communication with the U.S. Department of State, Department of Homeland Security, and other government agencies and we will continue to closely monitor developments in Israel.

Some of you who know Americans currently in Israel and the Palestinian territories, including those who call Connecticut home. They need accurate and up-to-date information about how to stay safe and get in contact with the U.S. Embassy. We appreciate Sen. Murphy making this information and resources available, and we encourage you to proactively share these with any family and friends that are traveling in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza or who have questions about the current situation.

• The Department of State has an around-the-clock coordinating group communicating with U.S. citizens and providing them assistance through phone calls and an online form. U.S. citizens seeking to be in touch with the U.S. Embassy in Israel can call 1-833-890-9595 or 1-606-641-0131.
• For the latest updates from the Department of State, please monitor the messages to U.S. citizens from the U.S. Embassy in Israel here. 
• The State Department has asked that any U.S. citizens in Israel enroll their contact information in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). You can complete enrollment online here. Enrolling in STEP allows you receive important information about safety conditions and assists the Embassy, family, and friends in contacting you during an emergency. 
• The State Department is continuously updating their international travel advisory for Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza. Those updates can be found on their website here.

Sen. Murphy's office also has a dedicated constituent services team on standby to assist with any inquiries, including questions about consular services and visas. To submit a request to our casework team, please complete and submit the appropriate form on our website, which can be found here.