President Joe Biden continues to show solidarity with Israel after surprise attacks by Hamas militants on Saturday killed more than 1,000 civilians, prompting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to declare his country “at war.”
On Tuesday, the 80-year-old president delivered remarks condemning Hamas, which the US classifies as a terrorist organization, and reaffirmed his support for the Jewish people.
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“You know, there are times in this life — and I mean that literally — when pure, unadulterated evil is unleashed on this world,” Biden said.
Biden began by acknowledging the “act of pure evil” that occurred over the weekend. He explained: “The Israeli people experienced such a moment this weekend. The bloody hands of the terrorist organization Hamas — a group whose declared purpose is to kill Jews. This was an act of pure evil.”
As the death toll for both Israelis and Palestinians continues to rise, the president said, “More than 1,000 civilians have been slaughtered — not just killed, butchered — in Israel.” Additionally, he told the American people that “at least 14 are American citizens [were] killed.”
While he shared how many lives had been lost in the past four days, he reminded the American people that “these traumas never go away.”
“There are still so many families desperately waiting to hear the fate of their loved ones, not knowing whether they are alive or dead or hostages,” Biden added. “Babies in their mothers’ arms, grandparents in wheelchairs, Holocaust survivors abducted and held hostage – hostages now threatened by Hamas to be executed in violation of every code of human morality. It’s horrific.”
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The president went on to condemn the terrorist organization for its “bloodlust” and “brutality,” while mentioning other terrorist organizations, including ISIS.
“Hamas does not stand for the Palestinian people’s right to dignity and self-determination,” he said. “Its declared purpose is the destruction of the state of Israel and the murder of the Jewish people.”
The president continued that the terrorist organization “uses Palestinian civilians as human shields.” Biden added: “Hamas offers nothing but terror and bloodshed regardless of who pays the price.”
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In the same statement, Biden also offered support for the Jewish community. “But, unfortunately, this is not new for the Jewish people. This attack brought to the surface painful memories and scars left by millennia of anti-Semitism and genocide against the Jewish people,” the president said.
After supporting the Jewish people, he shared the position of the United States in the conflict. “At this moment we must be crystal clear: we stand with Israel. We stand with Israel. And we will make sure that Israel has what it needs to take care of its citizens, to defend itself and to respond to this attack. There is no justification for terrorism. There is no excuse,” he said.
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The president also confirmed on Tuesday that he had spoken with the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom regarding the attacks. He said he spoke with Netanyahu three times, discussing the “human tragedy” and their decisions to “uphold the laws of war.”
Biden explained that since the beginning of the crisis, his administration has been “almost in constant communication” with Israeli partners and partners throughout the region. The president shared that the US is “increasing additional military assistance, including munitions and interceptors to replenish Iron Dome.”
As the president explained next steps on the global stage, he said the administration is also working with U.S. law enforcement departments and the FBI to “enhance security around centers for Jewish life” and also “to identify and disrupt any domestic threats that would could appear in connection with these horrific attacks.”
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As the statement concludes, the president expressed his condolences to the bereaved on behalf of the administration and the American public.
“We condemn indiscriminate evil, just as we have always done,” he continued. “This is what America stands for.”
Israel and Palestine have been fighting for decades for the right to consider Jerusalem as their capital. Although Israel governs Jerusalem, the Palestinians want control of East Jerusalem, which consists of the West Bank and Gaza, where Palestinians now live after being displaced as a result of the 20th century Arab-Israeli conflicts that began with the formation of Israel.
The international community, including the US and the UN, is trying to get the warring nations to agree on a possible two-state solution and achieve peace.
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Source: HIS Education