N.J. Admin. Code § Executive Order No. 345 (2023)
Governor Philip D. Murphy
Executive Order No. 345 (2023)
An Order Directing that the Flag of the United States of America and the Flag of New Jersey Shall Be Flown at Half-Staff at All State Departments, Offices, Agencies, and Instrumentalities During Appropriate Hours from Tuesday, October 10, 2023, through Friday, October 13, 2023, in Recognition and Mourning of the Lives Lost and Shattered by the Recent Terrorist Attacks on Israel by Hamas and by the Escalation of the Conflict Caused by the Attacks
Issued: October 9, 2023.
Effective: October 9, 2023.
WHEREAS, on October 7, 2023, nearly 50 years to the day of the attack on Israel that started the Yom Kippur War, Hamas terrorists undertook a coordinated series of horrific attacks on Israel; and
WHEREAS, the terrorists targeted civilians with thousands of rockets launched from the Gaza Strip and with incursions into Israel by heavily armed militants-violent attacks timed to occur as Israelis were celebrating Shabbat and the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah; and
WHEREAS, the latest reports indicate that at least 800 innocent Israelis, predominantly civilians, were killed, including women and children, with thousands injured, and an estimated 100 Israelis kidnapped and taken by Hamas into Gaza as hostages; and
WHEREAS, at least nine Americans were killed in the attacks by Hamas, and others are likely among those injured or taken hostage; and
WHEREAS, the numbers of casualties are likely to rise in the coming days as more information is gathered; and
WHEREAS, Israel has responded to the attacks with a declaration of war against Hamas and by launching retaliatory strikes in Gaza targeting Hamas infrastructure that is purposefully located in civilian areas, meaning that these strikes have resulted in hundreds of deaths, including innocent Palestinian civilians; and
WHEREAS, New Jersey has one of the largest Jewish and Israeli American communities in the world, and is proud of its long, historic, and unbreakable relationship with the State of Israel, beginning with the founding of modern Israel and continuing through our Sister State Agreement of 1988 to the present day; and
WHEREAS, we must continue to stand with the people of Israel in this dark hour and unequivocally condemn terrorism against innocent civilians; and
WHEREAS, we mourn for all of the victims of these terrorist attacks by Hamas and the escalation of the conflict caused by these attacks, for their families, and for the people of the region, who deserve peace and security;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, PHILIP D. MURPHY, Governor of the State of New Jersey, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and by the Statutes of this State, do hereby ORDER and DIRECT:
N.J. Admin. Code Executive Order No. 345 (2023)