Barack Obama FINALLY makes a statement almost three days after Hamas launched surprise rocket attack on Israel
Former President Barack Obama issued a statement regarding the Hamas terror attacks on Israel 72 hours after they first occurred.
Early Monday evening, a statement was released on Obama’s X (formerly Twitter) account in which he condemned the violence that left some 900 Israelis dead and thousands injured.
“All Americans should be horrified and outraged by the brutal terrorist attacks on Israel and the slaughter of innocent civilians,” the 44th president wrote.
“We mourn those who died, pray for the safe return of those held hostage, and stand right alongside our ally, Israel, as it demolishes Hamas.
“While we support Israel’s right to defend itself against terror, we must continue to strive for a just and lasting peace for both Israelis and Palestinians,” he concluded.
The Obama administration has had a notoriously rocky relationship with the US’s closest ally. President Obama himself and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were not close, and there was tension over brokering the Iran nuclear deal — a passion project of Obama’s team.
Former President Barack Obama issued a statement on the Hamas terror attacks on Israel 72 hours after they first occurred
In 2015, Netanyahu delivered a speech to the Republican-controlled House, criticizing the Obama-engineered nuclear deal.
Shortly after Obama released his statement, former President Bill Clinton also released a message, days after the barbaric attacks on Israel began.
In a post on his X page, Clinton said: ‘I condemn the horrific terrorist attack carried out by Hamas in Israel and mourn the senseless loss of life. My heart goes out to everyone affected by the violence, including American families. Now is a time for the world to stand together against terrorism and support Israeli democracy.’
“I stand with the government of Israel and all Israelis, and urge them to stand together. This is a moment to focus on purpose over politics.’
Clinton had a much closer relationship with Israel and its leaders than Obama. In the mid-90s, he helped broker the ultimately unsuccessful Oslo Accords between Palestinian leadership and the Israeli government.
President Joe Biden has a written statement also about the terrorist attacks on Monday, although he previously issued a statement through the White House
Statements from the two most recent Republican presidents – George W. Bush and Donald Trump – were issued over the weekend, as well as a statement from the Carter Center on behalf of 99-year-old former President Jimmy Carter.
Trump, whose administration oversaw the signing of the Abraham Accords – bilateral agreements on Arab-Israeli normalization signed by Israel, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates – called the attacks a “disgrace” and urged Israel to defending himself with ‘overwhelming force’.
In a Truth Social post on Saturday, Trump wrote: ‘These Hamas attacks are a disgrace and Israel has every right to defend itself with overwhelming force. Unfortunately, American taxpayer dollars have helped fund these attacks, which many reports have come from the Biden administration.’
“We brought so much peace to the Middle East through the Abraham Accords, only to see Biden grind it away at a much faster pace than anyone thought possible. Here we go again.’
He later said that, like the war between Russia and Ukraine, the current conflict between Israel and the Palestinians would not have happened if he had been the president.
SEI*175333158 Smoke rises after the Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip on Monday, October 9, 2023. Israel’s military struggled to drive Hamas fighters out of southern towns and seal its borders on Monday as it stormed the Gaza Strip
Israelis inspect a damaged residential building after it was hit by a rocket from the Gaza Strip in Ashkelon, Israel, Monday, Oct. 9, 2023.
Former US President Bill Clinton touches the flag-draped casket of former Israeli President Shimon Peres after eulogizing him during his burial ceremony at Mount Herzl Cemetery in Jerusalem, Israel in 2016
The George W. Bush Presidential Center also issued a statement following the attack that condemned Hamas’ brutal attack in no uncertain terms.
“We call on the United States and our allies to stand unequivocally with Israel, its government and people, and support Israel’s right to defend itself against these threats,” the statement said.
“Attacks on free and democratic states everywhere are attacks on all of us, whether in Israel, Ukraine, or elsewhere.”
Hamas’ surprise attack on Saturday morning came just one day after the 50th anniversary of the start of the Yom Kippur War, which saw Israel combat existential threats from hostile neighbors led by Egypt and Syria.
Israeli firefighters put out a fire at a site hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, in Ashkelon, southern Israel, Monday, October 9, 2023
The mother of Israeli col. Roi Levy cries during her son’s funeral at Mount Herzl Cemetery in Jerusalem on Monday, October 9, 2023. Col. Roi Levy was killed after Hamas militants from the blockaded Gaza Strip stormed into nearby Israeli towns
Israeli soldiers and civilians battled Hamas militants in the streets of southern Israel following a barrage of 2,000 rockets fired across the border by the Palestinian terrorists, in addition to a brutal ground attack.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu immediately declared a state of war and has since vowed “mighty revenge” on Israel’s attackers that will end in victory for his country.
Israel’s military began shelling key Hamas sites in the Gaza Strip and issued warnings to civilians in certain regions before a wave of retaliatory strikes began Monday morning.
Along with the 900 Israelis killed so far by the brutal Hamas attacks, at least 11 Americans died in the weekend ambush, and several were likely captured along with the scores of Israelis held hostage by Palestinian terrorists.