On Tuesday, United States President Joe Biden provided a forceful acknowledgement that American citizens are among the hostages seized by militant group Hamas, following the brutal upheaval that marked the weekend. Biden’s unwaveringly raw denunciation of the terror inflicted and the implied expectation of a retaliatory response from Israel were central themes to his speech.
Relaying graphic accounts of the horrors inflicted by the militants, President Biden told of the brutal slaughter of innocents. The current confirmed death toll of American citizens stood at 14, according to the President’s statement.
Drawing comparisons between the extreme violence of Hamas and former ISIS atrocities, Biden stated, “The brutality of Hamas’ bloodthirstiness brings to mind the worst rampages of ISIS.” He expressed revulsion at the events, reiterating the inhumanity of such violence.
In a clear effort to reaffirm the unwavering bond between the US and Israel, Biden’s 10-minute speech held no disguises as to his stance on the crisis. While refraining from openly advocating restraint in Israel’s impending response, Biden was adamant that the rule of law must be upheld.
Biden’s stern warning to regional governments not to exploit the turmoil was simply, “I have one word: Don’t.” He went on to share his own perspective on the possible course of action that Israel might take, reflecting on a conversation he held with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stating, “I told him that if the United States experienced what Israel is experiencing, our response would be swift, decisive, and overwhelming.”
Confirmation that American citizens had indeed been taken hostage since the onslaught commenced on Saturday was provided for the first time in public. Though already widely speculated upon within governmental ranks, official acknowledgment came during Biden’s remarks.
In the aftermath of his address, Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, revealed that the administration believes “20 or more Americans” are unaccounted for in Israel. However, it was clarified that this figure might not be indicative of the exact number of hostages held by Hamas.
Towards the conclusion of his speech, Biden unveiled his directive for the US government to deploy additional resources to assist with Israeli recovery efforts. His assertion was that nothing outranks the security of Americans taken hostage worldwide, resonating throughout his speech.
The President announced his intention to seek increased funding approval from Congress to facilitate Israel’s defense of its citizens and its territory. He stressed the importance of the ongoing support for Israel’s Iron Dome air defense system and the need for its adequate supply.
Biden emphasized that the emerging violence resembled some of the most horrific attacks by ISIS in the past decade, highlighting the parallels of terrorism faced by Jewish people. As an important domestic note, he mentioned that security measures had been intensified around Jewish community centers across the US.
