Congressman Massie Wants A New Investigation Into Israel Over USS Liberty Attack 59 Years Ago

In his speech on the House floor Monday marking the 59th anniversary of the USS Liberty incident, Republican Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie called for a new investigation into what happened during the attack, as well as a resolution honoring the men onboard.

Massie’s speech referred to a June 8, 1967 incident involving the Liberty, a U.S. Navy ship sent to collect intelligence off the coast of the Sinai peninsula where it was bombed and strafed by two Israeli fighter jets and struck by three torpedoes. The Israeli government claimed it was a case of mistaken identity, and a subsequent U.S. Navy Court of Inquiry confirmed Israel’s statement.

Massie, the survivors of the tragedy, and others continue to contest this narrative, claiming that the Court of Inquiry was invalid. Notably, a number of sailors aboard the Liberty insist the attack was deliberate.

“This was an effort to kill everybody on board. There was no intention of taking prisoners,” Massie claimed.

Speaking on the House floor, Massie relayed a conversation he had just prior to entering the chamber with some of the survivors of the Liberty and how their recollection of the event was very different from the court findings. While the Israelis claimed they did not know they were bombing a U.S. ship, the survivors recalled that the American colors were flying high on a day with unlimited visibility. (Read more from “Congressman Massie Wants A New Investigation Into Israel Over USS Liberty Attack 59 Years Ago” HERE)

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