Biden Addresses Israel War, Hamas Responds

While President Biden responded initially over the weekend to the horrific attack on Israel (between BBQs and other activities), he didn’t immediately condemn the actions of Hamas, a violent group classified as a foreign terrorist organization by the United States government in 1997. On Tuesday, he addressed the situation again, confirming reports of missing Americans and 14 dead. He condemned the acts by Hamas, saying, “We stand with Israel. We stand with Israel. And we will make sure Israel has what it needs to take care of its citizens, defend itself, and respond to this attack. There is no justification for terrorism. There is no excuse.

Hamas does not stand for the Palestinian people’s right to dignity and self-determination. Its stated purpose is the annihilation of the State of Israel and the murder of Jewish people.”

Biden continued, “They use Palestinian civilians as human shields. Hamas offers nothing but terror and bloodshed with no regard to who pays the price. The loss of innocent life is heartbreaking. Like every nation in the world, Israel has the right to respond — indeed has a duty to respond — to these vicious attacks.”

In response to Biden, Hamas gave a statement to a spokesman with Newsweek, saying,

“We strongly reject and denounce the inflammatory statements made by US President Joe Biden, which coincided with the continuation and escalation of the barbaric Zionist aggression against our Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and the rest of our occupied territories. ” “We consider these statements to be an attempt to cover up the criminality and terrorism of the Zionist government that has soaked in the blood of our people, as he did not refer at all in his speech to the massacres committed by Zionist forces against our people in cold blood and in full view of the world.”

As demonstrations have taken place around the United States supporting Israel, and others cheering on Hamas, in the latest development, former Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal has called for a global day of jihad this week:

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BREAKING: Former Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal has called for a global day of jihad in response to the Israel-Hamas war, telling supporters “you all know your responsibility.” (Reuters)

“[We must] head to the squares and streets of the Arab and Islamic world on Friday.”

“To all… pic.twitter.com/CAsbVa16h0

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) October 11, 2023