At a congressional hearing on Tuesday, FBI Director Christopher Wray stated that the attack by Hamas on Israel will serve as the impetus for the biggest terror threat to the United States since the emergence of ISIS almost ten years ago.
According to Wray, there is a concern from domestic violent extremists in the United States as several foreign terrorist groups have called for strikes against Americans and the West since the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in Gaza began earlier this month.
“The actions of Hamas and its allies will serve as an inspiration the likes of which we haven’t seen since ISIS launched its so-called caliphate several years ago,” Wray said.
The remarks came during a hearing before the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee focused on threats to the United States. The U.S. government has seen an increase in threats against Jews, Muslims and Arab Americans since fighting broke out in Gaza, officials have said.
The number of attacks on U.S. military bases overseas by Iran-backed militia groups have risen this month, Wray said. Cyber attacks against the United States by Iran and non-state actors will likely worsen if the conflict expands, he said.
Iran’s mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment.