In a televised address from the White House, President Joe Biden declared unequivocal support for Israel and denounced the assault by Hamas militants as an “act of sheer evil.” During the speech, President Biden confirmed that at least 14 Americans lost their lives in the recent Hamas attack, and an as-yet-undetermined number of Americans are currently being held hostage.
The attack saw armed militants crossing the border from Gaza, launching raids on Israeli cities, and ruthlessly targeting civilians in their homes, vehicles, and even at a desert music festival. It is estimated that around 150 hostages have been taken. Simultaneously, more than 900 people in Gaza have lost their lives in Israeli airstrikes while enforcing a comprehensive blockade that cut off access to food, fuel, and essential supplies from the besieged territory, which is home to 2.3 million people.
Following the President’s speech, Jake Sullivan, the US National Security Advisor, informed reporters that “20 or more Americans” were currently unaccounted for in the wake of the weekend violence. The exact number of Americans held captive by Hamas remains uncertain, and the US government is actively engaged in dialogue with the families of the missing individuals. Some family members have publicly appealed for assistance from both US and Israeli authorities in locating their loved ones.
“In this moment, we must be crystal clear: we stand with Israel,” declared President Biden in the presence of Vice President Kamala Harris and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. This strong affirmation was followed by the State Department’s announcement that Blinken will embark on a visit to Israel in the coming days to reaffirm solidarity with the nation.
Biden’s address underscored his unwavering condemnation of Hamas, labeling it a terrorist organization with a “stated purpose … the annihilation of the state of Israel and the murder of Jewish people.” He emphasized that Hamas does not represent the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people, echoing a rare joint statement by the leaders of the US, UK, France, Germany, and Italy. This statement acknowledged the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people but categorically stated that Hamas represents nothing more than “terror and bloodshed.”
President Biden invoked harrowing imagery during his speech, likening the Hamas attack to “the worst rampages of ISIS.” He described the brutality witnessed, including the murder of parents trying to shield their children, the heart-wrenching reports of infants losing their lives, and the horrifying accounts of women suffering violence, assault, and being paraded as trophies.
While Israeli warplanes continued their assault on the Gaza Strip, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowing “mighty vengeance” against Hamas, President Biden refrained from publicly appealing for restraint. Instead, he emphasized Israel’s right and, in his view, duty to defend itself. However, he had previously reminded Prime Minister Netanyahu, during a phone call, that democratic nations were more secure when they adhered to the principles of the rule of law.
Biden affirmed the United States’ commitment to supporting Israel, announcing that additional military assistance, including replenishing the Iron Dome rocket interceptor system, was being rapidly mobilized. Furthermore, he suggested that the US Congress, currently facing political turmoil without a House speaker, may be called upon to take “urgent action” regarding this matter.
In Washington, lawmakers from across the political spectrum largely offered a united response to the conflict, with condemnations of Hamas and expressions of unwavering support for Israel. In a statement, Senator Chuck Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish official in American history, assured Israel’s President Isaac Herzog that a bipartisan group in the US Senate was prepared to provide the necessary resources to ensure Israel’s security.
However, amid the prevailing unity, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, a Democrat from Michigan and the first Palestinian American woman elected to Congress, offered a dissenting voice. She expressed her sorrow for the loss of lives on both sides of the conflict and called on Israel to take steps, including “lifting the blockade, ending the occupation, and dismantling the apartheid system” to address the root causes of the ongoing violence.
Jake Sullivan further noted that the US would extend support to Israel “for as long as they need it,” with additional military aid, including ammunition and other weaponry, en route. He indicated that American aircraft would be delivering military capabilities to Israel. When asked about US assistance to Palestinian civilians seeking to escape Israeli bombardments, Sullivan stated that the US was actively working alongside Israel and neighboring Egypt to identify an escape route for Gaza residents.
President Biden also addressed domestic concerns, stating that state and federal law enforcement agencies were taking measures to safeguard Jewish centers across the United States and counteract potential domestic threats related to the tragic attacks.
President Biden’s unwavering support for Israel dates back to his first visit to the nation as a young US senator in 1973. During his speech, he shared a personal anecdote from that visit, recalling his conversation with then-Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir, who had conveyed a poignant message: “We have no place else to go.”
