On October 10, President Joe Biden condemned the militant group Hamas for “sheer evil” for its shocking multi-pronged attack on Israel launched from the Gaza Strip that killed hundreds of civilians, including at least 14 American citizens.
Mr. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier on October 10 to discuss the situation on the ground. Mr. Biden spoke about the actions he and other allies took to support Israel in the wake of the attack and expressed his horror at “sickening” reports of torture inflicted on innocent civilians by militants.
“Our hearts may be broken, but our intention is clear,” said Mr. Biden said. He added: “Let there be no doubt. The United States has Israel’s back. We will make sure that the Jewish and democratic state of Israel can defend itself today, tomorrow, as we have always done.”
Mr. In his public comments and statements since Hamas launched its attacks, Biden has repeatedly emphasized his shock at the scale and brutality of the Hamas attack – a blitzkrieg against land, sea and air that caught Israeli and US intelligence by surprise and that killed hundreds Israelis and even more left behind wounded.
Retaliatory strikes by Israel on the Gaza Strip have also left hundreds of Palestinians dead and wounded in the 141-square-mile blockaded area, one of the poorest places in the world. The death toll was expected to rise as Israel bombarded Gaza with airstrikes and sent tens of thousands of Palestinians to UN shelters.
Mr. Biden said he had instructed his team to share intelligence and military experts to consult and advise Israelis. He also confirmed that the US believes Americans are among dozens of hostages taken by Hamas.
“As president, I have no higher priority than the safety of Americans held hostage around the world,” Mr. Biden said.
The White House confirmed on October 9 that it had already begun delivering critically needed ammunition and military equipment to Israel, and the Pentagon was reviewing its stockpile to see what else could be quickly sent to its ally in the war against giving a boost to Hamas.
The Ford carrier strike group has arrived in the Far Eastern Mediterranean, within range to provide a host of air support or long-range strikes for Israel if requested, but also to bolster US military presence there to prevent the war from spilling over into a more dangerous regional conflict , a US official told The Associated Press.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the arrival before an announcement.
The Pentagon said the US warplanes, destroyers and cruisers that sailed with the Ford would conduct maritime and air operations that could include intelligence gathering, interdiction and long-range strikes.
Along with the Ford, the US is sending the cruiser USS Normandy and destroyers USS Thomas Hudner, USS Ramage, USS Carney and USS Roosevelt, and the US is increasing Air Force F-35, F-15, F-16 and A-10 fighter squadrons in the region.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters traveling with him to a Ukraine Contact Group meeting in Brussels on Tuesday that a small group of US special operations forces were also working with the Israelis to help with planning and intelligence.
Mr. In a joint statement with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on October 9, Biden underlined the “legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people” and their decades-long pressure. for sovereignty. But the leaders also tried to separate the Palestinians’ aspirations from the “horrific acts of terrorism” by Hamas.
Americans have a gloomy outlook on mr. Biden’s performance on the Israeli-Palestinian issue. Six out of 10 Americans (61%) disapproved of how Mr. Biden handled the conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians, according to an August poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. About one-third (35%) of American adults approved, which was slightly lower than Mr. Biden’s overall approval rating of 42% in the same poll.
Four in 10 Americans (44%) said the US gives about the right amount of support to Israel in the conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Republicans were more likely than Democrats to say the US should provide more support to Israel. Four in 10 Americans (42%) said the correct amount of aid is being given to the Palestinians. Democrats and Independents were more likely than Republicans to say the Palestinians should receive more aid.
It seems that the current crisis will certainly further public sentiment about mr. Biden’s Middle East foreign policy approach will test.
The Biden White House pointed out that his handling of the last conflict between Israel and Gaza in 2021 would play a crucial role in limiting the length and loss of life in a war that spanned 11 days and killed at least 250 people in Gaza and killed 13. in Israel.
During the 2021 conflict, Mr. Biden limited his public comments while privately pressing Netanyahu to end the conflict. His behind-the-scenes effort played out even as some of the president’s fellow Democrats pressured him to speak out against the Israelis as the death toll in Gaza rose and tens of thousands of Palestinians were displaced by aerial bombardment, White House officials said. at that point.
But this conflict is unlikely to end so quickly. Domestic and international pressure can quickly weigh on Mr. Biden steps up to Mr. to pressure Netanyahu to end operations to prevent the suffering of innocent Gazans.
This story was reported by The Associated Press. AP writers Josh Boak, Seung Min Kim, Lolita C. Baldor, Matthew Lee and Linley Sanders reported.