On October 10, US President Joe Biden spoke in support of Israel and condemned Hamas terror attacks after its assaults in southern Israel on October 7. He also warned against acts of hatred against the Jewish or Muslim communities in the United States.
Biden called the October 7 attacks “pure, unadulterated evil,” calling Hamas a group “whose stated purpose was to kill Jews.”
He accused Hamas of war crimes, including the murder of more than a thousand civilians, as well as raping, mutilating and killing entire families. The President confirmed the deaths of at least 14 Americans during the attack.
He also criticised Hamas’ threat to execute hostages, comparing the Palestinian Islamist movement’s actions to the “worst rampages of ISIS.”
Joe Biden claims that the US supports Israel and will make sure that “Israel has what it needs to take care of its citizens, defend itself, and respond to this attack.”
Hamas has been accused of using Palestinian civilians as human shields and of offering “nothing but terror and bloodshed.” Biden drew a line between Hamas and the Palestinian people, claiming the militant group did not “stand for the Palestinian people’s right to dignity and self-determination.”
The US leader emphasised the importance for democracies such as the United States and Israel to distinguish themselves from “terrorists,” especially by upholding the laws of war. Terrorists “purposefully target civilians, killing them.”
He held a private telephone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during which he called for civilian casualties to be minimised, NBC News reported.
Biden announced that the US would provide vital military supplies and also deploy an aircraft carrier strike group to the region. The country would provide additional military assistance, including ammunition and interceptors for Iron Dome anti-missile systems.
The President’s administration will co-operate with the US Congress to ensure sufficient funding for aid to Israel, although Congress now lacks a Speaker of the House after Kevin McCarthy has been deposed by both parties.
The US will share intelligence data and send experts to consult Israel on the return of hostages, including US citizens. Biden also issued a stern warning to any country or organisation that was “thinking of taking advantage of this situation.”
Don’t.
He also warned that “there is no place for hate in America,” whether it be against Jews or Muslims.
What we reject is terrorism.
